fortune gems 3 slot demo Democracies Around the GlobeNEW Spanish rules coming in force from Monday will make it "much harder" for Brits to holiday in the tourist hotspot. From December 2, Brits heading anywhere in Spain will be required to give hotels and accommodation a number of extra personal details . Among the 31 new pieces of information to be shared are home addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Families will also be asked for their relationship to any children travelling with them, as well as their group size. The new rules will begin to be enforced in just two days time. They have been introduced by the Spanish government in a bid to "crackdown on organised crime". However, Spain’s leading hotel association CEHAT has slammed the rules after its request to dial down the details given was denied. CEHAT Secretary General Ramón Estalella previously described the new rules as "Big Brother" and warned they will also massively delay busy check in times. Ramón told the Telegraph : "Spain is already the only country in the EU where hotels must send guests’ ID info to the police, while in other countries they just have to keep that data for a period. “Not only could it violate fundamental privacy rights, but it also threatens to complicate and hinder the experience of millions of visitors who choose Spain as a destination." They added that many hotels lack the correct technology to follow the new rules or to provide adequate data protection. Ramón continued: "It is impossible to automate the process and it would involve additional and disproportionate manual work for establishments and a considerable increase in errors." The new rules have already been delayed multiple times since their initially planned January 2023 introduction date. Any hotel organisation that does not comply with the rules faces fines up to €30,000 (£25,000). A spokesperson for the Interior Ministry previously said: "It is justified for the general interest for the security of citizens against the threat of terrorism and other serious offences committed by criminal organisations." Furious tourists have slammed the new rules, with one saying: "They are off my holiday list." Another added: "That's a shame so much for that holiday in Spain. "I am sure another country will be happy to take my money." A WAVE of anti-tourist measures are being implemented across Europe to curb mass tourism in popular holiday hotspots. Overcrowding has become the main problem in many sunny destinations, with authorities trying to find a solution to keep tourists and locals happy. Officials have attempted to reduce the impact of holidaymakers by implementing additional taxes on tourists, or banning new hotels . Earlier this year Venice became the first city in the world to charge an entry fee for holidaymakers after it started charging day-trippers €5 (£4.30) if visiting the historical Italian centre. It was followed by an area in Barcelona which resorted to removing a well-used bus route from Apple and Google Maps to stop crowds of tourists from using the bus. Meanwhile, San Sebastián in the north of Spain, limited the maximum number of people on guided visits to 25 to avoid congestion, noise, nuisance and overcrowding. The city has already banned the construction of new hotels. The Spanish government has allowed restaurants to charge customers more for sitting in the shade in Andalucia. Benidorm has introduced time restrictions, as swimming in the sea between midnight and 7am could cost a whopping £1,000. The Canary Islands are also considering adopting measures to regulate the number of visitors - and charge tourists a daily tax. Greece has already enforced a tourist tax during the high season (from March to October) with visitors expected to pay from €1 (£0.86) to €4 (£3.45) per night, depending on the booked accommodation. Officials in Santiago de Compostela in Galicia want to introduce a fee for travellers to remind people to be courteous during their trips. Tourists are already asked a number of other questions when entering the country. For example, arrivals must be able to show evidence of enough funds while in the country, with at least €100 (£85) for each day in Spain. Spain has a number of strict rules in place across the country. Smoking is banned on a number of beaches in Barcelona and the Canary islands, with fines up to £1,700. Some restaurants in Majorca ban any tourists who are wearing football shirts. And alcohol limits are in place on destinations such as Magaluf and Ibiza. Tourists at all-inclusive resorts will only be allowed to have three drinks in the day and three in the evening.

The standard Lorem Ipsum passage, used since the 1500s "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum." Section 1.10.32 of "de Finibus Bonorum et Malorum", written by Cicero in 45 BC "Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur?" Thanks for your interest in Kalkine Media's content! To continue reading, please log in to your account or create your free account with us.AP News Summary at 3:03 p.m. EST

The San Francisco 49ers claimed running back Israel Abanikanda off waivers from the New York Jets on Tuesday, one day after placing running backs Christian McCaffrey and Jordan Mason on injured reserve. The Jets released Abanikanda on Monday after adding Kene Nwangwu to the active roster. Nwagwu had been a practice-squad elevation for the Jets last Sunday against Seattle and returned a kickoff for a touchdown in the game. Abanikanda, 22, was a fifth-round draft pick by the Jets in 2023. After running 22 times for 70 yards and catching seven passes for 43 yards in six appearances as a rookie, Abanikanda did not play a regular-season game for New York in 2024, buried on the depth chart behind Breece Hall and others. When the Niners placed McCaffrey and Mason on IR, rookie Isaac Guerendo was left as the only healthy running back on their active roster. In Sunday night's loss at the Buffalo Bills, McCaffrey left the field in pain in the second quarter and was diagnosed with a posterior cruciate ligament injury in his right knee. Mason also suffered a high ankle sprain in the game. McCaffrey was playing in just his fourth game of the season after missing the first eight because of Achilles tendinitis in both legs. He was the NFL Offensive Player of the Year last season, when he led the league with 2,023 yards from scrimmage: a league-leading 1,459 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns plus 67 catches for 564 yards and seven scores. Mason is the leading rusher for San Francisco (5-7) this season with 789 yards and three touchdowns on 153 carries. It was his third season in the league. --Field Level MediaNone2025 State Budget to maintain stability, economic growth

-- Shares Facebook Twitter Reddit Email 2024 was an ominous year for the future of Earth. Climate scientists anticipate that it will be the first year in which the average planetary temperature was 1.5 degrees Celsius higher than pre-industrial levels , a critical threshold established in 2015 during the Paris climate accord . Meanwhile a 2023 study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found humans brought about as many extinctions over the previous five centuries that if our species had never existed, it would have taken 18,000 years for that same number of genera to have gone extinct on their own. The good news for humanity is that people have the power to stop these mass extinctions and stave off the worst consequences of climate change . The bad news for our species is that we are not doing any of those things; in fact, we are led by science-denying politicians like Donald Trump in the United States, Vladimir Putin in Russia, Viktor Orbán in Hungary and Javier Milei in Argentina. Related Laser-based lidar tech is rewriting history — if climate change doesn't erase it first Julian Cribb, a British-Australian author who specializes in covering the intersections between science and politics, has published nine books on subjects related to ecocide — the practice in which humans actively destroy their environment. His latest is " How to Fix a Broken Planet: Advice for Surviving the 21st Century ," in which he warns that humanity is running out of time to fix the escalating crisis. Among other things, Cribb proposes the creation of a Global Truth Commission to help leaders separate good science and information from bad; technological innovation to wean humanity off of agriculture and create food in more sustainable ways; and strategies that will address all of the threats to humanity’s future holistically, rather than separately. Cribb discussed his thoughts on humanity’s future with Salon. This interview has been lightly edited for clarity and context. In the past, you have advocated for a Global Truth Commission. Can you elaborate on what that means, how it would be implemented, and what you'll say to those who claim this violates free speech principles? A Global Truth Commission basically is a fact-checking agency. The world has 420 fact checking agencies , which are run mostly by media organizations, like Reuters, for example. In Australia, we have one run by the ABC, a fact-checking organization that simply checks the statements of public figures. If they find them to be false or untruthful or misleading, they publish their findings. They don't punish people in any way. They just simply expose the lies for what they are. An Indian farmer checks his wheat crop that was damaged in heavy rain on the outskirts of Amritsar on March 21, 2018. (NARINDER NANU/AFP via Getty Images) And we believe now that, such as the torrent of untruths and deception of lies that are pouring forth from politicians, corporate interests and others, we have to make some corrections. Otherwise, you cannot have a democracy. You cannot even have a society if nobody knows what the truth is, because everything begins to disintegrate. Every decision you take is based on false grounds if you allow untruths to rage unchecked. So a World Truth Commission is simply a fact-checking agency that would check the statements of prominent public figures and publish its findings. How do you deal with the fact that with climate change, pesticide pollution, plastic pollution and all of these ecocidal practices, there is so much misinformation that people can't distinguish between what is real and what is fake? How do you specifically make it easier for scientific facts to be widely distributed? The Council for the Human Future is trying to do just that. We're about to set up a world news website where we will only publish scientifically validated, fact-checked information about these things. People are going to have to learn that if they accept false information, they are likely to incur damage to themselves. That's the penalty of accepting lies. People who believe them end up making bad decisions. "Climate change is not the only threat. There are 10 major catastrophic threats to the human future." You can't thrust this on 8.2 billion people, but you can offer them the truth. You can offer them validated truths. In other words, things that have been checked by experts and, and not just asserted by vested interests in business, in commerce, in politics, and so on. Based on your research into effective political activism, what can individuals who are concerned about climate change do to empower themselves in meaningful ways? The first thing is to understand that climate change is not the only threat. There are 10 major catastrophic threats to the human future. And they're all working together. They're all coming together at the one time. Climate change is only one of them. So it's only 10% of the problem we have to understand. The others include resource failure or insecurity — i.e., lack of water and forests and fish and things like that; lack of food; collapse of ecosystems and mass extinction; nuclear weapons, WMDs and things like that; food security/food instability in the global food supply, which is now a major issue worldwide; pandemic diseases, which are breaking out every two or three years now; overpopulation, which occurs whenever you breach environmental boundaries; new technologies, every new technology starts off benign and then becomes malignant very, very rapidly, such as coal being benign in the 1850s, and it's become malignant. Or AI, or nanotechnology, or biotechnology — these are all in danger of becoming malignant because they're uncontrolled. We need control over new technologies; and basically misinformation is a major threat to human survival because people are not being informed about what the real situation is. A view of dried soil after the rising temperatures attributed to climate change have resulted in a reduction of water levels in wells and reservoirs across Sanaa, Yemen on August 26, 2023. (Mohammed Hamoud/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) Why do you think, when people talk about ecocide, we only discuss climate change? Why do we not talk about this more broadly? Because climate change has had huge scientific effort put into it, and consequently, its publicity has raised its profile above the other major threats. But ecological collapse and extinction are far more dangerous to the human future in the long run. We can't survive on a planet that cannot support life. We're destroying life left, right and center at the moment with global poisoning and the like. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes . Basically ecocide is human overpopulation. Overpopulation is scientifically defined as a state where you start destroying your living environment. Whether you are a grasshopper or a bird or a human, if you start destroying the environment in which you live, then you are overpopulated. That's how we measure overpopulation. And the human species is way overpopulated, about four times overpopulated now. It's not just a number, it's not just about what is the ideal population of the planet, it's about how many people can actually survive here in the long run on the resources which are finite and provided by the Earth. So ecocide is just a kind of a lawyer's term for killing off the cradle of life that supports us. Are we doomed to be poisoned by pollution or can we still clean the planet? Every breath you take, you are inhaling toxic chemicals. Whether it's from the rear end of a truck or a bus, or whether it's just coming out of your sofa or all those PFAS chemicals , flame retardants and stuff. Every child born today is born with toxic chemicals in its blood. It takes it in through its mother's milk. It gets a mouthful of pesticide. That’s World Health Organization data, not mine. We are completely surrounded by toxic chemistry. A lot of it is man-made and a lot of it is man-generated. In other words, actions like mining development, agriculture and so on, unleash a whole lot of chemicals which impinge on us every day. We get them through our mouths, through our skin and in our bones, by breathing. Every person on the planet is being poisoned every second of the day. It seems like the answer is yes. Are there solutions to this? We can fix them if we understand the problem. At the moment, we're only understanding bits of the problem. We're obsessed with plastics over here, and we're obsessed with hormone disruptors over there. We're looking at little bits of the problem. We're obsessed with PFAS chemicals. They're tiny. There's 350,000 manmade chemicals, right? And they all break down to make other chemicals and intermix with other chemicals. We need your help to stay independent Subscribe today to support Salon's progressive journalism So it's a very complex issue, but there are things we can do to clean up the planet, yes. It's a major problem. It's five times larger than climate change. It kills 10 times more people than climate change, but there are solutions to it, and I've published them in a couple of books. In some of your books, you made the link between climate change and these other forms of pollution, but also how they are linked to issues like famine and war. The way most people are going to feel climate change is in the failure of the food supply, because clearly famine is spreading around the world at the moment. Food price inflation is going through the roof. It's what destabilized America enough for the Trump regime to get in. Trump is a climate impact, believe it or not. Trump is a climate impact, an impact of climate change, because when people get nervous about food availability, the price of food, they tend to vote for authoritarian conservative or right-wing regimes. And that's what's happening worldwide. It's not just in America. It's happening in Australia, it's happening in Austria, it's happening in Hungary — it's everywhere. The world is swinging to the right because of this uncertainty generated by the climate impact on food. "In all my reading of history, I've never found a woman who started a war." There are many ways that climate impacts food.It creates drought, obviously, and that cuts crop harvest yields. It produces heat waves, which often prevent the flowering of the crops, so that destroys their fertility. Rice, for example, will not grow above 42.2 degrees Celsius. The rice plant dies, so you could lose your rice harvest in a certain area. Things like that and floods will also destroy crops. It’s a big problem. Agriculture was a beautiful technology for 7,000 years back in the Bronze Age. It is not appropriate to feed 10 billion people on a hot, climate-ravaged earth. We need new ways to produce food, and there are new ways to produce food, and they're being experimented all around the world at the moment. Climate change is also fueling immigration. How do you propose we handle this? It's very, very hard to control. I read a report from the Swiss in Zurich predicting 1.2 billion climate refugees by 2050. That's terrifying. The number's about a hundred million at the moment. There's about 350 million humans on the move worldwide now every year. But Zurich is talking about a tripling or a quadruple in the number of human beings on the move that is going to collapse borders. It's going to sweep away governments completely. It's going to utterly destroy the old nation-states as we know them. For example, if a hundred million refugees come out of Africa and flood into Europe, you are going to lose Spain, Italy and Greece just like that. Their people in turn will flee north into the other countries. You get this displacement effect. It is actually a realistic fear. The only way to keep people in their own countries is to secure their food supply. To do that, you need renewable food and you need to recycle your water. Can you elaborate on the technology that would provide this renewable food and clean water? With water, it is simply a matter of recycling. You just use well-established scientific techniques to cleanse the water that you are currently flushing down the toilet or running off the city streets and you remove the bugs from it and put it back into the system with food. Related "Universal suicide": An imprisoned climate activist on why the fight for the planet still matters There are three main ways of producing renewable food: One is regenerative farming, which is being practiced by advanced farmers around the world; the second one is recycling all of the nutrients and all the water that currently flow through our big cities, enabling cities like New York or Shanghai or Paris to feed themselves by simply recycling nutrients and growing their own food on the spot with the nutrients and water that they've already got using hydroponic, aquaponic and other systems; and the third one is deep ocean aquaculture, which is being pursued by scientists at Berkeley University of California at Berkeley. It's a very feasible technology for producing an endless supply of food from the deep oceans, not from the coast. I hasten to add, it's not a form of farming. You use the deep water where you're not impacting any other species around the planet. You're not displacing anything else. You're not cutting down the Amazon in order to feed people. These three systems will create a renewable food supply. My next question is in one of your books, you mentioned that women would be better to lead on climate change than men. What does smashing the patriarchy, so to speak, have to do with climate change? In all my reading of history, I've never found a woman who started a war. I don't mean Helen of Troy-type mythology. Women have led countries successfully in defense of their own country, people like Golda Meir in Israel and Indira Gandhi in India and Margaret Thatcher in the United Kingdom. They've defended their country successfully against aggression, male aggression from elsewhere. But in the last 150 years, all wars that have been started, they've all been started by males, either male-dominated governments or kings, basically.Wars of conquest, which are normally fought over territory, food, land and water are things that blokes like doing. A protester is walking towards a wildfire started by a launched tear gas canister during a march as part of a rally against the construction of a giant water reservoir (mega-bassine) in Migne-Auxances, western France, on July 19, 2024. (Jerome Gilles/NurPhoto via Getty Images) What do you think of the results of the 2024 election in which a candidate who acknowledges science was a woman and lost to a candidate who does not acknowledge science and is a man? That was partly the result of misinformation, which we discussed earlier, but also as I mentioned, climate is already driving up inflation and it's making the food supply less secure. There is drought all through America at the moment. People are feeling very nervous. Now, to give you an example, in the 1930s, Germany had been through a horrendous famine and starvation in World War I, when nearly a million Germans died of hunger. That was what drove Germany into the arms of the National Socialists. Basically, this insecurity regarding food and inflation, a massive inflation under the Weimar Republic, shook people to the core. So basically that's what makes people nervous and they tend to go for big, tough authoritarian male leaders. And I think that's what, from my reading of all the American commentary, it was basically economic insecurity that delivered Trump the win. But of course, he's already appointing a cabinet of the cognitively impaired, people who simply do not understand the problem or else are hostile to objective information. You're going to get some very bad decisions in the next four years, and America's going to be a very unpleasant place to live for ordinary, decent human beings. A lot of the ugly aspects of authoritarian rule are probably going to become manifest. So you have my heartfelt sympathies, but it's going to happen in a lot of other countries, not just America. It's happening in Britain. It's happening in Australia. It's a pretty universal trend at the moment, and it's not going to save us. It’s going to speed our demise. Read more about climate change Climate change activists urge attorney general to prosecute fossil fuel industry “Absolutely devastating”: Climate change is pushing coral reefs to extinction, experts warn New report accuses Citibank of funding fossil fuel projects amounting to environmental racism By Matthew Rozsa Matthew Rozsa is a staff writer at Salon. He received a Master's Degree in History from Rutgers-Newark in 2012 and was awarded a science journalism fellowship from the Metcalf Institute in 2022. MORE FROM Matthew Rozsa Related Topics ------------------------------------------ Authoritarianism Climate Change Environment Famine Julian Cribb Pollution War Related Articles Advertisement:

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Makenzie McGill II ran for 155 yards and scored a pair of touchdowns and North Texas ended a five-game losing streak beating Temple 24-17 on Saturday in a regular-season ender for both teams. The win helped North Texas (6-6, 3-5 American Athletic Conference) reach bowl eligibility. Prior to Saturday, the Mean Green hadn't won since Oct. 12 when they beat Florida Atlantic 41-37. The game's scoring outcome was settled by halftime. Chandler Morris threw a 14-yard touchdown to DT Sheffield on the game's opening drive for a 7-0 UNT lead. Kali Nguma added a 36-yard field 19 seconds later following a Temple turnover. The Owls (3-9, 2-6) got on the board with Maddux Trujillo's 44-yard field goal. McGill made it 17-3 with a 39-yard scoring run. Eight seconds into the second quarter, McGill ran 51 yards to the end zone for a 24-3 edge. Temple got two touchdowns before the half ended when Joquez Smith and Evan Simon each ran it in from the 1 to reduce the deficit to 24-17. North Texas clinched a bowl berth for the 15th time in program history and eighth time since 2013. It's the first time in the Eric Morris era North Texas has qualified for a bowl. Temple hasn't posted a winning season since 2019 when it went 8-5 and ended the season with a 55-13 loss to North Carolina in the Northrop Grumman Military Bowl. The Owls have ended the last four seasons with records of 3-9. ___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up . AP college football: and The Associated PressA Northern Ireland woman has bravely shared her story of going from homeless to hopeful ahead of Homelessness Awareness Week. Arianna lost her mum in early childhood due to illness and went to live with her aunt who lived across the street , aged 12. Her dad moved away to Scotland for work three days after his mum, Arianna’s granny died. Her aunt sadly died when Arianna was turning 21. READ MORE: The mobile health clinic bringing vital services to NI homeless community READ MORE: Urgent appeal as over 5,000 children facing homelessness in NI this Christmas At this stage she went back to live with her dad who had up to this point provided for her financially but had never been her primary caregiver. Arianna struggled with her mental health at various stages of her childhood but it wasn’t until she was 21 that she disclosed to her GP how difficult she was finding things at home, largely due to her dad’s alcoholism which she had kept secret. The GP referred her to a social worker who referred Arianna to MACS, Northern Ireland’s youth homelessness charity. Unable to continue living at home, Arianna spent some time sofa surfing, staying at her sister’s and some friend’s houses. MACS met her where she was and started supporting her via their floating support service. Arianna describes this as a turning point, saying of her MACS support worker Gary: "I didn’t realise help like this existed. He helped me with all the aspects of my life that I needed help with; a lot of people don’t have parents who are able to do stuff for them but MACS helped me every little thing that I needed." Arianna had previously been in a bad car accident which had left her traumatised so Gary drove her to health appointments, to legal and welfare appointments and helped her back into driving lessons to overcome her fear of driving. MACS connected Arianna with the Housing Executive and helped her learn about the welfare system and which benefits she was entitled to while she got herself on her feet. She now has the keys to her own flat and is excited about embarking on a career helping other young people. Arianna describes how MACS helped and encouraged her to enrol on a short course at Ulster University in Early Adversity and Developmental Trauma. She got the bug for learning and has since completed further educational courses in related topics. She explained: "The courses helped me understand some of my own feelings and behaviours and how they’d been shaped by my early experiences. I hope one day I’ll be able to use this insight and knowledge to help others the way MACS has helped me. "If it hadn’t been for MACS’s help I hate to think where I’d be now, possibly homeless or on the street. Instead, I feel hopeful about my future." Arianna hopes to enrol on a psychology degree or a counselling course next year. MACS Supporting Children and Young People (MACS) is the only youth-specific homelessness charity in Northern Ireland. MACS are challenging people to give up their bed for one night to raise funds towards the crucial housing and support services MACS provide to young people aged 16-25 who are at risk of, or experiencing homelessness in NI. MACS will host the Sleep Out challenge at Banana Block in Belfast on December 5 to coincide with Homelessness Awareness Week facilitated by Homeless Connect, which aims to raise awareness of the reality of homelessness in NI. Sleep Out is a fun-filled evening with stand-up comedy by Paddy Raff, a drum circle with The Gathering Drum and warm drinks and food courtesy of Bodega Bagels until 11pm when the challenge of sleeping out really begins. Kate Martin, MACS’s CEO, said: “It would be impossible to recreate the fear, loneliness and discomfort of not having a safe place to call home but Sleep Out gives participants a glimpse into the reality some young people are facing. “MACS was established over 30 years ago, the name is an acronym for Mulholland After Care Services as at that time we solely supported young people leaving care. “Over time we’ve widened our support to help all young people who are at risk of homelessness. Unfortunately that demand is higher than ever. MACS support almost 700 young people aged 16-25 every year.“ She added: “Early intervention is so important in breaking the homelessness cycle before it spirals into longer term homelessness and the associated risks. When young people get the right support at the right time they really can and do progress away from homelessness and build brighter futures. “At MACS we concentrate on intensive longer term services; typically each young person receives up to two years of services. Our support is holistic, wrap-around care tailored to each individual's needs over a period of time that allows them time to develop the capacity, confidence and resilience to move on. “The reasons young people find themselves homeless can be complex, it may be due to loss or illness of a family member, adverse childhood experiences, relationship breakdown or other circumstances which are outside of a child or young person’s control. “MACS aims to give these young people security whilst empowering them to find a place to call home and build brighter futures. Every young person deserves a safe place to live and the unwavering support and guidance as they navigate early adulthood.” To register or donate visit www.macsni.org . Join our Belfast Live breaking news service on WhatsApp Click this link or scan the QR code to receive breaking news and top stories from Belfast Live. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice . For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Stock market today: Wall Street climbs as bitcoin bursts above $99,000Zelensky demands response from allies as Putin threatens West with new missile

Palantir Technologies ( PLTR 1.56% ) shares have soared by 285% this year, while Nvidia ( NVDA 2.15% ) shares have advanced by 175%. Both companies play important roles in the burgeoning artificial intelligence (AI) economy, but several billionaire fund managers sold some of their Palantir stakes and bought more shares of Nvidia during the third quarter. Cliff Asness of AQR Capital Management sold 99,140 shares of Palantir, cutting his position by 16%. Meanwhile, he added 719,710 shares of Nvidia, upping his position by 5%. Nvidia is now the largest position in AQR's portfolio. Ken Griffin of Citadel sold 5.1 million shares of Palantir, reducing his stake by 91%. Meanwhile, he bought 4.7 million shares of Nvidia, increasing his stake by 194%. Nvidia is the second largest position in Citadel's portfolio, excluding options contracts and index funds. Steven Schonfeld of Schonfeld Strategic Advisors sold 60,384 shares of Palantir, closing his position in it completely. Meanwhile, he added 703,192 shares of Nvidia, increasing his stake by 217%. Nvidia is the largest holding in Schonfeld's portfolio, excluding index funds. Palantir Technologies: The stock some billionaires were selling Palantir provides data analytics software. Its core Gotham and Foundry platforms integrate information and machine learning (ML) models into an ontology -- a digital layer that defines the relationships between real-world objects. Using prebuilt and custom analytics tools, businesses can query the ontology layer to surface insights that improve decision-making. Palantir also has an artificial intelligence platform called AIP, which brings generative AI support to its core products, letting users engage with that software using natural language. For instance, procurement teams managing supply chains with Foundry can simply ask the platform to review problems and propose solutions as they arise. While many vendors sell AI and analytics tools, Palantir believes it is unique in its ability to operationalize AI. In other words, Palantir says its software lets clients move prototype use cases to production more effectively than other solutions. There may be a bit of posturing in that belief, but analysts have recognized Palantir as a leader in AI/ML platforms. Palantir reported excellent financial results in the third quarter, beating estimates on the top and bottom lines. Revenue increased 30% to $725 million, and non-GAAP net income surged 43% to $0.10 per diluted share. Management attributed its strong performance to momentum with AIP. "Our unchallenged ability to channel and guide the demand for integrating AI seamlessly with essential data, distribution, and decision-making structures is what truly sets us apart," CEO Alex Karp wrote in his letter to shareholders. That confidence is undoubtedly encouraging for Palantir shareholders, but the company's valuation has become a significant problem. Wall Street expects Palantir to grow its adjusted earnings at an annualized rate of 27% through 2025. That makes the current valuation of 188 times earnings look absurdly expensive. Those figures give it a price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 7, and conventional wisdom says anything trading at a PEG above 2 is expensive. Prospective investors should avoid this stock for the time being, and current shareholders should consider trimming large positions. Nvidia: The stock some billionaires were buying Dan Ives at Wedbush Securities says Nvidia is the "foundation of the AI revolution." The company designs the most coveted graphics processing units (GPUs) in the computing industry. Nvidia accounted for 98% of data center GPU shipments in the last two years, and it has about 80% market share in AI accelerator chips. That leadership is reinforced by CUDA, a robust ecosystem of software development tools. An article in The Wall Street Journal recently explained how CUDA contributed to the rise of Nvidia: "Year after year, Nvidia responded to the needs of software developers by pumping out specialized libraries of code, allowing a huge array of tasks to be performed on its GPUs at speeds that were impossible with conventional, general-purpose processors like those made by Intel and AMD ," wrote that newspaper's Christopher Mims. Nvidia reported excellent financial results in the third quarter, beating estimates on the top and bottom lines. Revenue rose 94% to $35 billion, and non-GAAP net income jumped 103% to $0.81 per diluted share. Investors have good reason to think that momentum will continue. Nvidia is currently ramping up production of its next-generation Blackwell GPUs, and CFO Colette Kress recently told analysts, "Demand is staggering." Looking ahead, Wall Street expects Nvidia's adjusted earnings to increase at an annualized rate of 52% through its fiscal 2026, which ends in January 2026. That consensus makes the current valuation of 52 times adjusted earnings look quite reasonable. Those figures give a PEG ratio of 1, which makes Nvidia far cheaper than Palantir. Patient investors should be comfortable buying a position in this stock today.

Tweet Facebook Mail Sports and fitness enthusiasts have the chance to snap up a bargain purchase as millions of dollars worth of recreational equipment heads to auction in three Australian cities. One of the country's leading suppliers of sporting hardware, T&R Sports, has entered liquidation, sparking a massive auction event. Lloyds Auctions is handling the liquidation of the company's entire inventory, which includes high quality sporting goods, leisure equipment and gym supplies. READ MORE: UK lawyer fifth death linked to suspected methanol poisonings in Laos One of the electric bikes up for auction. (Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers) (Supplied) There are more than 10,000 lots that need to be cleared in less than 30 days. All items are unreserved and starting from just $1, with items spread across three giant warehouses in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Lloyds Auctions says they are bargains to be had over the next weeks. "This is the shortest time frame Lloyds have ever had to liquidate this amount of goods so buyers can expect up to 80 per cent off Recommended Retail Price RRP," said chief operating officer Lee Hames. All items are brand new or display showroom models. READ MORE: Man charged over alleged violent kidnapping in Sydney The recreational goods include pool tables such as this one. (Lloyds Auctioneers and Valuers) (Supplied) They include air hockey tables, ping pong tables, electric scooters, electric bikes, trampolines, exercise equipment, furniture and Pilates reformers. "With the festive season just around the corner, this event provides Australians with a rare opportunity to capitalise on incredible deals while helping to clear these massive inventories," said Hames. "The short 30-day sale window and all items starting at $1 with no reserves ensures that all inventory is cleared ahead of Christmas." The first auctions will begin closing from next Tuesday and they will continue to close through to next month. All auctions are pick up only. Collection is the responsibility of the purchaser. For further information, visit Lloyds Auction .Tariffs, sanctions or bans? What will Trump really achieve when the US says ‘no’

WeBuy Global Shares Climb On Disney Cruise Campaign Success Powered By Micky1.0 AIAtiku Abubakar’s support group, the Face of Waziri Nigeria (FOWN) has described Chief Bode George’s recent counsel that the former Vice President should not contest the 2027 general elections as a clearly ill-intended one. The group in a statement issued by its Director General, Mr. Bukky Adeojo, said Chief Bode George’s basis for advising Atiku against contesting in 2027, smacks of a venomous articulation of a pathological mandate waster. According to FOWN, Bode George has played lead roles in sabotaging efforts of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stakeholders in the past and, therefore, lacks any iota of honour to counsel anyone, let alone a well-dignified Atiku. It said that George is not qualified to meddle in an all-important discourse that pertains to the future of PDP, rather he should support Atiku come 2027. The group said: “He should not be a tribal bigot and it is time for him to support Atiku’s competency and well-rounded knowledge of Nigeria’s economy and challenges, but he equally has his own right to support whoever he wants that can butter his bread. “Donald Trump is 78 years and he contested and Americans preferred him to Kamala. How old are Trump, Tinubu and Atiku? “We are aware of Bode George’s romance with opposition in Lagos State for many years but we thought the older an elder gets, the better wise counsel he gives but his case is totally different. “Bode George has no power or capacity to advise Atiku not to contest on the basis of age when his kinsman and President Bola Tinubu is of the same age as Atiku. “Bode George has been the reason why PDP in Lagos is in shambles and comatose despite efforts of Dr. Chief Abimbola Ogunkelu’s efforts to shape and galvanize the party in Lagos to a better position.” The group raised posers on the PDP’s trajectory and influence, berating Bode George as one who really has no pedigree to counsel Atiku. “Where was Bode George when Atiku and others were forming PDP with Solomon Lar, Alex Ekwueme, Sunday Awoniyi, Jerry Gana and others? In what capacity is he advising Atiku? “Has Atiku ever written a letter or memo to Bode George asking him for money to run his campaign? What contribution has he made in support of Atiku’s campaign since he said Atiku has been contesting for a long? Is Bode George not a patron of Wike and G-5 governors?”

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Judge weighs whether to order Fani Willis to comply with lawmakers’ subpoenas over Trump caseThe Ukrainian president said the use of a ballistic missile to hit Dnipro was a “clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war” and he warned that Russian president Mr Putin would attack or destabilise other countries unless stopped. Mr Putin said the use of the new weapon was in response to the UK and US allowing missiles they have supplied to Ukraine to be used to strike targets in Russia. “In response to the use of American and British long-range weapons on November 21 of this year, the Russian armed forces launched a combined strike on one of the facilities of the Ukrainian defence industry,” Mr Putin said in a televised address. “One of the newest Russian medium-range missile systems was tested in combat conditions, in this case, with a ballistic missile in a non-nuclear hypersonic warhead.” He added: “We consider ourselves entitled to use our weapons against military facilities of those countries that allow their weapons to be used against our facilities.” But Mr Zelensky urged world leaders – his “dear partners” – not to be cowed by Mr Putin’s actions otherwise there will be “endless Russian strikes” and “not just against Ukraine”. Today, Putin admitted to taking a second step this year toward escalating and expanding this war. A new ballistic missile was used. Putin struck our city of Dnipro, one of Ukraine’s largest cities. This is a clear and severe escalation in the scale and brutality of this war—a... — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 “A lack of tough reactions to Russia’s actions sends a message that such behavior is acceptable,” the Ukrainian president said on X, formerly Twitter. “This is what Putin is doing. Putin must feel the cost of his deranged ambitions. “Response is needed. Pressure is needed. Russia must be forced into real peace, which can only be achieved through strength. “Otherwise, there will be endless Russian strikes, threats, and destabilisation-not just against Ukraine.” The UK is believed to have allowed its Storm Shadow missiles to be used by Ukrainian forces within the Kursk region of Russia, while the US has given permission for its ATACMS weapons to be fired at targets in Mr Putin’s country. Mr Putin confirmed Russia has tested the new intermediate-range weapon in an attack on Dnipro in response. The US said the weapon was a new, experimental intermediate-range missile based on Russia’s existing RS-26 Rubezh intercontinental ballistic missile. In Westminster, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “My understanding is that it is the first time that Russia has used a ballistic missile in Ukraine with a range of several thousand kilometres.” Defence Secretary John Healey said it was “yet another example of Putin’s recklessness”. He said: “Since the illegal invasion of Ukraine began, Russia has consistently and irresponsibly escalated the conflict while Ukraine continues to fight in self-defence for a democratic future.” The missile’s range far outstrips that of newly authorised US and British-supplied weapons, which can hit targets around 250-300km away. The distance from Moscow to London is around 2,500km, suggesting the range of the new missile could threaten the UK. Mr Healey said the UK knew Russia had been “preparing for months” to fire a new ballistic missile. Downing Street and the Ministry of Defence have repeatedly declined to comment publicly on Ukraine’s use of Storm Shadow. “It risks both operational security and in the end the only one that benefits from such a public debate is President Putin,” Mr Healey told MPs. I had a meeting with the UK delegation led by Chief of the Defence Staff @AdmTonyRadakin_ . We discussed defense cooperation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Particular... pic.twitter.com/EcjqfTuR49 — Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) November 21, 2024 The head of the UK’s armed forces, Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, met Mr Zelensky in Kyiv to discuss the war on Thursday. Mr Zelensky said: “We discussed defence co-operation between Ukraine and the United Kingdom, focusing on developing and enhancing the technological capabilities of the armed forces of Ukraine. “Particular attention was given to Ukraine’s current military needs and the continued support from our partners.”

CPEC Chili Project earns reward at the ongoing CISCEWith its twinkling Christmas fairy lights and nostalgic array of vintage toys, the window of one London “shop” never fails to enchant passers-by. A Punch and Judy puppet, old board games, model trains and planes, papier mache masks adorn the window of Number 43, Camden Passage in the north London neighborhood of Islington. Would-be shoppers intrigued by the quirky collection immediately start searching for the entrance. But Number 43 is not a shop and nothing here is for sale -- to the huge disappointment of the excited children who press their noses up against the glass. The adjacent blue door with its festive wreath remains firmly closed and no one answers the bell. Sandwiched between a Chipotle Mexican grill and a jewelry store, neighboring shopkeepers say people are forever asking where the entrance is. In fact, the property is the former home of Bob Borzello, 88, and the window display is the result of a lifetime obsession with collecting, or “accumulating”, as he prefers to call it. “Everyone comes and says, ‘Oh look at that, I wonder when they’re open’,” his daughter-in-law Belle Benson, 51, who recently took over the displays with her daughter, told AFP. “People just like it, especially little children,” added Borzello. The property was once home to a poster shop where Borzello and his former wife sold pin-ups of iconic figures like Che Guevara. Originally from Chicago, the former businessman and tabloid newspaper editor came to London in the 1960s to study at the London School of Economics. After a short spell back in Chicago he and his now ex-wife returned to settle in London in 1967 and ran the poster shop and a print business from the property. Accumulator All along, however, Borzello was “accumulating” his vast collection of items picked up in antique shops and junk sales. “The fun of it is looking around and finding it... a lot of it is just things I find interesting,” he said. A decade ago Borzello began displaying the items, and the window in the property he still owns is now something of an Islington institution. The toy collection began with airplane models which are soon to be the subject of another themed display. As well as toys, Borzello has accumulated lots of souvenir items from the late Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation. Other collections include clocks, badges, wedding cake toppers, shop mannequins, his children’s old school reports, even his old Covid tests, which he has lined up next to his phone. The fireplace in Borzello’s nearby flat is surrounded by all things green, from glass vases and ornaments to ladies’ shoes, hats and necklaces. He says he thinks he picked up the “collecting gene” from his Italian-American mother and that his children are also collectors in different ways. “My daughter, she’s a ‘mudlark’ and she’s got her whole house filled with things that she’s got from the (River) Thames,” he said, referring to people who search for treasures on the shores of rivers. His “minimalist” son, meanwhile, has “gone the other way”, although he “picks up everybody else’s dying plants and nurses them back to life”, making him a collector of a different kind, he said. Despite his lifelong dislike of throwing anything away, Borzello laughed when Belle revealed she recently found him “slaving over the shredder”. He admitted he was shredding his old love letters so his grandchildren can’t read them after his death, although he has insisted on keeping the shreds. “I just have a hard time getting rid of things,” he said. —AFP

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Finding the can be daunting. The only way to truly ensure you get it right would be to ask the recipient what they want, but that wouldn’t be much fun for either of you. Luckily, there’s another tactic to help you earn a “gift whisperer” reputation: seeking out unique, practical, game-changing gifts that will truly surprise and delight. But that’s about as easy as it sounds, which is to say it’s not easy at all. So, we’ve done the legwork for you. Start making your list with this compilation of some of the most innovative, functional and fun gifts of 2024. There’s something for every budget. Bear with me: The new set elevates the pedestrian pepper and spice mill in both function and style. Available in three colors (Sangria Red, Midnight Black and Soft Cream), the rechargeable-battery unit grinds with a light touch rather than hand-tiring twists. That’s easier for everyone and especially helpful for those experiencing hand or wrist issues such as arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome or tendinitis. And it’s fun to use. The set includes a stackable storage tray and four pods that can be easily swapped as needed: The GT microplane grater for hard spices, nuts and chocolate; the MAX for large spices and dried herbs; the ProPlus for smaller and oily spices; and the Pepper Pod for, well, pepper. $110. Campers and backyard firepit lovers who have experienced the heartbreak of wet wood will appreciate having a three-pack of on hand. Made of 89% recycled materials, including sanding dust, wax and flint, the food-safe, eco-friendly, 3-by-2-by-1-inch fire starters will light a fire quickly without matches, lighters or kindling. Just loop the attached green string around a log, incorporate it into a wood stack, and pull the attached red string to ignite. Each windproof, rainproof block burns for 30 minutes. $29.99. The , a company known for its portioned, silicone freezer trays, lives up to its name. The utensils — a serving spoon and a ladle — have innovative, S-shaped handles designed to rest on the edge of a pot, keeping them upright so they won’t slip in. The design also eliminates the need for a spoon rest or, worse, placing dirty utensils on the kitchen counter or stovetop between stirs. A silicone coating in a choice of Aqua, Charcoal, Cranberry or Blueberry keeps handles cool to the touch. $24.99. The could turn anyone into an avid birdwatcher. Equipped with an HD camera, the dual-chamber feeder enables up-close livestreaming of avian visitors, as well as species-logging via the free mobile app. An optional premium subscription ($59.99 annually or $6.99 monthly) includes unlimited photo and video storage, AI identification with species-specific details, and the opportunity to earn badges for logging new visitors. Turn on notifications to get alerts sent to your phone whenever there’s activity at the feeder. $179.99. Fujifilm’s smartphone printer offers a touch of nostalgia without sacrificing technology. Just load the 4.9-by-3.5-by-1.3-inch printer with Instax Mini instant film and connect it to your Android or iOS device via Bluetooth to print wallet-size photos. If you want to get fancy, you can adjust brightness, contrast and saturation, or apply filters, including 3D augmented-reality effects, via the free Instax Mini Link app. It can also make collages of up to six images, or animate photos to share on social media. Available in Rose Pink, Clay White and Sage Green. $99.95. The appropriately named is one of the best gifts you can give your houseplant-loving friends, regardless of their experience level. Select a pot color, size and plant (or get recommendations based on sunlight requirements, pet friendliness and other attributes) and fill the self-watering container’s built-in reservoir roughly once a month. Moisture will permeate the soil from the bottom as needed, eliminating the often-fatal consequences of over- or under-watering. It’s also a literal lifesaver come vacation time. $49-$259. Related Articles If you’ve got a no-dairy friend on your list, a plant-based milk maker could save them money while allowing them to avoid sugar, stabilizers, thickeners and preservatives. The both blends and strains ingredients, converting nuts, seeds, grains or oats into velvety-smooth milk in just one minute, with zero grit. And for zero waste, the pasty leftover pulp can be used in other recipes for added nutrients. The device also makes infused oils, flavored waters and soups. And, importantly, cleanup is easy. Available in white and black. $400. For friends who prefer stronger beverages, the uses “smart” technology to ensure wine is served at its ideal temperature. Unlike traditional wine refrigerators, this device doesn’t take up any floor space. It also doesn’t chill wine to just one or two temperatures based on its color. Instead — paired with the free QelviQ app — the tabletop chiller relies on a database of more than 350,000 wines to bring a bottle to its specific recommended serving temperature in as little as 20 minutes. It also suggests food-wine and wine-food pairings. Plus, the appliance serves as a great icebreaker to inspire dinnertime conversation. Available in Exciting Red, Dashing Black and Dreamy White. $495. Grilling food after dark — and ascertaining its doneness — can prove challenging without outdoor lighting, and it’s nearly impossible to cook while holding a flashlight. But as is often the case, the simplest of solutions can make the biggest of impacts: puts illumination into the handles of its stainless-steel spatula and tongs. After use, the lights can be removed and the utensils run through the dishwasher. $40.Vance takes on a more visible transition role, working to boost Trump’s most contentious picks

IPL 2025 mega auction Tamaghna Banerjee, a reporter from Kolkata, covers crime, aviation, human rights and politics. He has a keen interest in human interest and rural reporting. He has done his postgraduation in journalism and mass communication. He has a total of 14 years in journalism. Read More 10 ways to use pumpkin seeds 7 things that boys learn from their moms 10 Indian breakfast dishes loved across the world How to grow onion and garlic on your kitchen window Kid-friendly wildlife experiences in India How to make Chicken Chili Pakora at home 10 types of South-Indian rice dishes and how to make them 10 most beautiful offbeat places for solo travel in India (2025) Persimmon: Nutrients, health benefits of this vibrant orange colored fruit 8 animals that have more than 2 eyesEU universal charger rules come into force

Alex Ovechkin has a broken left fibula and is expected to be out four to six weeks, an injury that pauses the Washington Capitals superstar captain’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record. The Capitals updated Ovechkin’s status Thursday after he was evaluated by team doctors upon returning from a three-game trip. The 39-year-old broke the leg in a shin-on-shin collision Monday night with Utah's Jack McBain, and some of his closest teammates knew it was not good news even before Ovechkin was listed as week to week and placed on injured reserve. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.NBK begins receiving applicants for collection of run kit

'Soberish' drink options for the holiday season It's a busy time of year for socializing, and for those who don't want to drink alcohol, there are more and more options out there. Watch Amy Smith's interview with Jay Hiltz, the owner of Soberish Mocktail Shoppe in Halifax.In Spain, a court has convicted four men for the homophobic murder of Samuel Luiz, a 24-year-old nursing assistant. The brutal crime, which took place in July 2021, ignited protests both within the country and abroad, shining a spotlight on the persistent issue of violence against LGBTQ+ individuals. Luiz suffered a fatal assault from a group outside a nightclub in A Coruna, in the Galicia region. Among the convicted, Diego Montaña, Alejandro Freire, and Kaio Amaral faced charges of aggravated murder, while Alejandro Míguez was found guilty of complicity. The trial lasted nearly four weeks, and the jury took a lengthy five days to reach a verdict. Spain's Interior Ministry reported 364 hate crimes linked to sexual orientation or gender identity in 2023, resulting in 184 arrests. The case underscores the broader context of hate crimes in Spain, with the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights noting that many incidents remain unreported. (With inputs from agencies.)

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MidxMidwest Brings 90+ Venture Capitalists to Kansas City to Drive Regional Investment ActivityNoneLAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Tyrese Hunter scored 17 of his 26 points after halftime to lead Memphis to a 99-97 overtime win against two-time defending national champion and second-ranked UConn on Monday in the first round of the Maui Invitational . Hunter shot 7 of 10 from 3-point range for the Tigers (5-0), who were 12 of 22 from beyond at the arc as a team. PJ Haggerty had 22 points and five assists, Colby Rogers had 19 points and Dain Dainja scored 14. Tarris Reed Jr. had 22 points and 11 rebounds off the bench for the Huskies (4-1). Alex Karaban had 19 points and six assists, and Jaylin Stewart scored 16. Memphis led by as many as 13 with about four minutes left in regulation, but UConn chipped away and eventually tied it on Solo Ball’s 3-pointer with 1.2 seconds remaining. Memphis: The Tigers ranked second nationally in field goal percentage going into the game and shot it at a 54.7% clip. UConn: The Huskies saw their string of 17 consecutive wins dating back to February come to an end. The teams were tied at 92 with less than a minute remaining in overtime when UConn coach Dan Hurley was assessed a technical foul for his displeasure with an over-the-back call against Liam McNeeley. PJ Carter hit four straight free throws — two for the tech and the other pair for the personal foul — to give Memphis a 96-92 lead with 40.3 seconds to play. UConn had three players foul out. Memphis attempted 40 free throws and made 29 of them. Memphis will play the winner of Colorado-Michigan State on Tuesday in the second round of the invitational. UConn will play the loser of that game in the consolation bracket. Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here . AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball .

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Party’s over, let’s get down to business, Soludo urges APGA executivesBioLogiQ lays ground for plastic-free eraSuchir Balaji, a former OpenAI engineer and whistleblower who helped train the artificial intelligence systems behind ChatGPT and later said he believed those practices violated copyright law, has died, according to his parents and San Francisco officials. He was 26. Balaji worked at OpenAI for nearly four years before quitting in August. He was well-regarded by colleagues at the San Francisco company, where a co-founder this week called him one of OpenAI's strongest contributors who was essential to developing some of its products. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

One of the SEC’s starting quarterbacks is walking away from football. Kentucky quarterback Brock Vandagriff has decided to retire. A school spokesperson on Sunday confirmed the news to Jon Hale of the Lexington Herald-Leader NEW: While Brock Vandagriff did not enter the transfer portal this month, he is not returning to UK. After one season starting at Kentucky, he is retiring from playing football, Vandagriff confirmed Sunday through a UK spokeswoman. https://t.co/Z72rpeq27I — Jon Hale (@JonHale_HL) December 29, 2024 Vandagriff had one year of eligibility remaining. He was benched for Kentucky’s final game of the regular season in favor of freshman Cutter Boley, which led to speculation that Vandagriff might transfer. Vandagriff did not enter the portal by Saturday’s deadline, however, as he had decided he no longer wants to play. A former 5-star recruit, Vandagriff started 11 games for Kentucky this season. He finished the year with 1,593 passing yards, 10 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. The Wildcats went 4-7 in games that Vandagriff started. Kentucky had high hopes for Vandagriff when he transferred to Lexington from Georgia after the regular season last year. Vandagriff had played behind Stetson Bennett and Carson Beck with the Bulldogs, so he never go an opportunity to showcase his potential. Kentucky’s starting quarterback job is now wide open once again, as another notable QB on their roster transferred prior to the season. This article first appeared on Larry Brown Sports and was syndicated with permission.Rosen Law Firm Encourages Light & Wonder, Inc. Investors to Inquire About Securities Class Action Investigation - LNWEnvironment Canada warns of 'near-zero' visibility as fog blankets Ottawa

US News Today Live Updates: In today’s dynamic landscape, staying updated on the latest developments across the United States is essential. US News delivers the most impactful and current stories from coast to coast, covering a broad spectrum of topics, including politics, economic trends, healthcare, social issues, and cultural shifts. From significant government actions and economic shifts to breakthroughs in technology and the latest social debates, we provide real-time updates and thoughtful analysis to keep you informed. Our goal is to keep you connected to the stories that shape American life, ensuring you’re always in the know on the news that matters. US News Today Live: 10 unbelievable Christmas light displays across the US you have to see this holiday season

Buckle up: AI’s impact on the global economy is set to soar. Wall Street anticipates artificial intelligence could inject up to $200 trillion into the global market over the next decade. Consequently, tech titans are fiercely competing to seize AI dominance, directing monumental investments towards advanced data centers and cutting-edge chips. Tech Giants’ Jaw-dropping AI Expenditures Major players like Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms are leading the charge, with plans to significantly ramp up their capital expenditures (capex) by 2025. Collectively, these four giants are expected to allocate $300 billion solely to AI-driven developments in that year. For context, Amazon alone might spend $96 billion, while Microsoft follows closely at $90 billion. Alphabet and Meta Platforms are projected to contribute $63 billion and $52 billion, respectively. Nvidia: The Chip Leader Awaiting a Boom At the heart of this surge is Nvidia, dominating the AI chip market with its revolutionary Blackwell GPUs. Morgan Stanley forecasts that Nvidia could sell an impressive 800,000 units in merely the first quarter of 2025, translating to potentially $64 billion in revenue. This growth is pivotal for Nvidia, suggesting an upward trajectory in stock value. Future Prospects With AI’s accelerating adoption, Nvidia is positioned favorably. Despite previous massive gains, Nvidia shares could still offer considerable upside, reflecting its expanding revenue and growing influence in AI. Investors keeping a close eye on AI trends might find Nvidia a compelling candidate for future growth. Why AI’s Financial Revolution is Unstoppable The digital landscape is undergoing a seismic shift, with artificial intelligence (AI) poised to reshape the global economy profoundly. Wall Street experts predict that AI could inject a staggering $200 trillion into the global market within the next decade. As a result, major technology companies are locked in an aggressive race for AI supremacy, channeling monumental resources into the development of powerful data centers and state-of-the-art chips. Tech Giants Ramp Up AI Investments In this high-stakes competition, key players such as Microsoft, Amazon, Alphabet, and Meta Platforms are at the forefront, significantly increasing their capital expenditures (capex) dedicated to AI advancements. By 2025, these tech giants are estimated to set aside $300 billion collectively for AI-driven initiatives. To put this into perspective, Amazon alone could potentially invest an extraordinary $96 billion, while Microsoft is anticipated to follow closely with a $90 billion investment. Meanwhile, Alphabet and Meta Platforms are projected to contribute $63 billion and $52 billion, respectively. Nvidia: Dominating the AI Chip Market The surge in AI investment positions Nvidia as a pivotal player in the market, primarily through its cutting-edge Blackwell GPUs. Morgan Stanley anticipates Nvidia might sell as many as 800,000 units in just the first quarter of 2025, potentially bringing in $64 billion in revenue. This growth trajectory is expected to bolster Nvidia’s stock value even further, cementing its status as a leader in AI hardware. Future Projections and Market Insights As AI adoption accelerates globally, Nvidia finds itself in a strategically advantageous position. Despite already experiencing significant gains, Nvidia shares are projected to have additional upside potential. This reflects the company’s expanding revenue base and increasing influence over the AI sector. For investors keen on capitalizing on AI trends, Nvidia presents an attractive opportunity for potential future growth. For more insights on Nvidia and emerging AI technologies, visit the Nvidia website .

(The Center Square) – Adoption of institutional neutrality is supported by better than 6 in 10 tenured and nontenured faculty at the University of North Carolina, Wake Forest University and Duke University, a report says. Nationally, 66% of faculty say “colleges and universities should not take positions on political and social issues,” says Silence in the Classroom, the 2024 FIRE Faculty Survey Report. At Duke, the percentage is 71%, at Carolina 65%, and at Wake 64%. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.Amazon invests another $4 bn in AI firm AnthropicSouth Korea's embattled President Yoon Suk Yeol avoided an opposition-led attempt to impeach him over his short-lived imposition of martial law, as most ruling party lawmakers boycotted a parliamentary vote Saturday to deny a two-thirds majority needed to suspend his presidential powers. The scrapping of the motion is expected to intensify protests calling for Mr. Yoon's ouster and deepen political chaos in South Korea, with a survey suggesting a majority of South Koreans support the president's impeachment. Mr. Yoon's martial law declaration drew criticism from his own ruling conservative People Power Party, but the party is also determined to oppose Mr. Yoon's impeachment apparently because it fears losing the presidency to liberals. After the motion fell through, members of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party rallied inside the National Assembly, chanting slogans calling for Mr. Yoon's impeachment or resignation. The party's floor leader, Park Chan-dae, said it will soon prepare for a new impeachment motion. Opposition parties could submit a new impeachment motion after a new parliamentary session opens next Wednesday. "We'll surely impeach Mr. Yoon Suk Yeol, who is the greatest risk to Republic of Korea," party leader Lee Jae-myung said. "We'll surely bring back this country to normal before Christmas Day or year's end." Many experts worry Mr. Yoon won't be able to serve out his remaining 2 1⁄2 years in office. They say some PPP lawmakers could eventually join opposition parties' efforts to impeach Mr. Yoon if public demands for it grow further. The ruling party risks "further public outrage and national confusion if they don't find a formula fast for Mr. Yoon's departure," said Duyeon Kim, a senior analyst at the Center for a New American Security in Washington. PPP chair Han Dong-hun said his party will seek Mr. Yoon's "orderly" early exit but didn't say when he can resign. Protests against Mr. Yoon are swelling On Saturday, tens of thousands of people packed several blocks of roads leading to the National Assembly, waving banners, shouting slogans and dancing. Protesters also gathered in front of PPP's headquarters near the Assembly, shouting for its lawmakers to vote to impeach Mr. Yoon. A smaller crowd of Mr. Yoon's supporters, which still seemed to be in the thousands, rallied elsewhere in Seoul, calling the impeachment attempt unconstitutional. Impeaching Mr. Yoon required support from 200 of the National Assembly's 300 members. The Democratic Party and five other small opposition parties, which filed the motion, have 192 seats combined. But only three lawmakers from PPP participated in the vote. The motion was scrapped without ballot counting because the number of votes didn't reach 200. National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik called the result "very regrettable" and an embarrassing moment for the country's democracy. If Mr. Yoon is impeached, his powers will be suspended until the Constitutional Court decides whether to remove him from office. If he is removed, an election to replace him must take place within 60 days. The president apologizes for turmoil Earlier Saturday, Mr. Yoon issued an apology over the martial law decree, saying he won't shirk legal or political responsibility for the declaration and promising not to make another attempt to impose it. He said would leave it to his party to chart a course through the country's political turmoil, "including matters related to my term in office." "The declaration of this martial law was made out of my desperation. But in the course of its implementation, it caused anxiety and inconveniences to the public. I feel very sorry over that and truly apologize to the people who must have been shocked a lot," Mr. Yoon said. Since taking office in 2022, Mr. Yoon has struggled to push his agenda through an opposition-controlled parliament and grappled with low approval ratings amid scandals involving himself and his wife. In his martial law announcement on Tuesday night, Mr. Yoon called parliament a "den of criminals" bogging down state affairs and vowed to eliminate "shameless North Korea followers and anti-state forces." The declaration of martial law was the first of its kind in more than 40 years in South Korea. The turmoil has paralyzed South Korean politics and sparked alarm among key diplomatic partners like the U.S. and Japan. "Mr. Yoon's credibility overseas has been undermined by declaring martial law, so he won't be able to exercise leadership in his foreign policies especially when his days are numbered," Kim, the analyst, said. "Its government bureaucracy will need to continue business as usual for existing alliance and foreign policy initiatives as best it can because there is a lot of important work to do globally." Tuesday night saw special forces troops encircling the parliament building and army helicopters hovering over it, but the military withdrew after the National Assembly unanimously voted to overturn the decree, forcing Mr. Yoon to lift it before daybreak Wednesday. Eighteen lawmakers from the ruling party voted to reject Mr. Yoon's martial law decree along with opposition lawmakers. PPP later decided to oppose Mr. Yoon's impeachment motion. Mr. Yoon's speech fueled speculation that he and his party may push for a constitutional amendment to shorten his term, instead of accepting impeachment, as a way to ease public anger over the marital law and facilitate Yoon's early exit from office. Lee told reporters that Mr. Yoon's speech was "greatly disappointing" and that the only way forward is his immediate resignation or impeachment. His party called Mr. Yoon's martial law "unconstitutional, illegal rebellion or coup." Lawmakers on Saturday first voted on a bill appointing a special prosecutor to investigate stock price manipulation allegations surrounding Mr. Yoon's wife. Mr. Yoon accused of ordering arrests of politicians On Friday, Han, who criticized Mr. Yoon's martial law declaration, said he had received intelligence that during the brief period of martial law Mr. Yoon ordered the country's defense counterintelligence commander to arrest unspecified key politicians based on accusations of "anti-state activities." Hong Jang-won, first deputy director of South Korea's spy agency, told lawmakers Friday that Mr. Yoon had ordered him to help the defense counterintelligence unit to detain key politicians including Han, Lee and Woo. The Defense Ministry said Friday it suspended three military commanders including the head of the defense counterintelligence unit over their involvement in enforcing martial law. Vice Defense Minister Kim Seon Ho has told parliament that Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun ordered the deployment of troops to the National Assembly. Opposition parties accused Kim of recommending to Mr. Yoon to enforce martial law. Kim Yong Hyun resigned Thursday, and prosecutors imposed an overseas travel ban on him. This story was reported by The Associated Press.

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Juan Soto introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year deal NEW YORK (AP) — Juan Soto put on a New York Mets jersey and cap for the first time after his record $765 million, 15-year contract was finalized and talked about what made the difference in his decision. He said at his introductory news conference on Thursday that the Mets “showed me a lot of love." Soto was introduced at Citi Field a day after his deal was finalized. Speaking in the Piazza 31 Club, Soto was flanked by Mets owner Steve Cohen, president of baseball operations David Stearns and his agent, Scott Boras. Bill Belichick 'always wanted' to give college coaching a try. Now he will at North Carolina New North Carolina football coach Bill Belichick said he had long been interested in coaching in the college ranks. But it had never worked out until now, as he takes over the Tar Heels program. Belichick led the New England Patriots to six Super Bowl titles during a 24-year run there that ended last year. Belichick's five-year deal pays him $10 million in base and supplemental salary per year. It is guaranteed only for the first three years, including for buyout purposes. There is also up to $3.5 million in annual bonuses. Wander Franco's sex abuse trial has been postponed 5 months PUERTO PLATA, Dominican Republic (AP) — The trial against Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco, who has been charged with sexually abusing a minor, sexual and commercial exploitation against a minor, and human trafficking, has been postponed until June 2, 2025. Dominican judge Yacaira Veras postponed the hearing Thursday at the request of prosecutors because of the absence of several key witnesses in the case. Franco’s lawyers asked the court to reconsider the postponement, arguing Franco must report to spring training in mid-February. The judge replied that Franco is obligated to continue with the trial schedule and his conditional release from detainment. Rape investigation that Swedish media say focused on Kylian Mbappé has been closed STOCKHOLM (AP) — Swedish prosecutors say they have dropped a rape investigation that was launched in connection with soccer star Kylian Mbappé’s visit to Stockholm in October. In a statement, lead investigator Marina Chirakova says there is not enough evidence to continue the investigation into the allegation at a hotel. Prosecutors never publicly named the suspect in the investigation but some Swedish media reported it was Mbappé. The Real Madrid striker visited Stockholm in October during a break in the Spanish league. At the time, Mbappé’s legal team dismissed those reports as false. Travis Hunter, the 2-way standout for Colorado, is the AP college football player of the year BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Colorado two-way standout Travis Hunter is The Associated Press college football player of the year. Hunter received 26 of the 43 votes from a panel of AP Top 25 voters. Boise State tailback Ashton Jeanty finished second with 16 votes, and Arizona State running back Cameron Skattebo received one vote. A throwback player who rarely left the field, Hunter had 92 catches for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns as a receiver. He had four interceptions and 11 passes defensed as a shutdown corner. Hunter helped the the 20th-ranked Buffaloes to a 9-3 record and an appearance in the Alamo Bowl against BYU. 2034 World Cup visitors will live in 'a bubble' and not see real life, Saudi rights activist says LONDON (AP) — A Saudi human rights activist says soccer fans visiting Saudi Arabia for the 2034 World Cup will live in a “bubble” that doesn't reflect real life there. Lina al-Hathloul is a London-based activist whose sister was jailed in Saudi Arabia then banned from travel after campaigning to end a ban on women driving. When FIFA confirmed the kingdom as the 2034 tournament host on Wednesday its president Gianni Infantino acknowledged “the world will be watching” for positive social change. Al-Hathloul says western people “will be very safe” at the World Cup but "will see a bubble of what Saudi Arabia is.” Team claims NASCAR rescinded approval to buy new charter unless federal antitrust suit is dropped CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — A new court filing says NASCAR rejected Front Row Motorsports’ agreement to purchase a charter from Stewart-Haas Racing unless the team and 23XI Racing dropped their federal antitrust lawsuit against the stock car series. Front Row and 23XI rejected NASCAR's new revenue sharing agreement and have gone to court. NASCAR now says it will move forward in 2025 with 32 chartered teams and eight open spots, with offers on charters for Front Row and 23XI rescinded and the SHR charters in limbo. Indian teen Gukesh Dommaraju becomes the youngest chess world champion after beating Chinese rival NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju has become the youngest chess world champion after beating the defending champion Ding Liren of China. Dommaraju, 18, secured 7.5 points against 6.5 of his Chinese rival in Thursday's game which was played in Singapore. He has surpassed the achievement of Russia’s Garry Kasparov who won the title at the age of 22. Dommaraju is now also the second Indian to win the title after five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand. The Indian teen prodigy has long been considered a rising star in the chess world after he became a chess grandmaster at 12. He had entered the match as the youngest-ever challenger to the world crown after winning the Candidates tournament earlier this year. Hojlund scores twice for Manchester United to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in Europa League Rasmus Hojlund scored twice after coming off the bench and Manchester United rallied to beat Viktoria Plzen 2-1 in the Europa League. The Denmark striker netted in the 88th minute after collecting Bruno Fernandes’ pass off a free kick to seal the victory. Ahead of the late games, United moved to fifth place with 12 points from six games. Hojlund came on in the 56th to replace Marcus Rashford and scored an equalizer six minutes later. In the Conference League a youthful Chelsea lineup made the most of a long trip to Kazakhstan by beating Astana 3-1 to stay perfect in the third-tier competition. NFL world reacts with excitement, surprise, questions after Bill Belichick is hired to coach UNC Bill Belichick is already the most decorated coach in NFL history. His next challenge is college football after he agreed to a five-year deal to coach at North Carolina. The reaction around the NFL ranged from excitement at seeing him back on the sideline to disbelief. Some of his former players believe his skill set will work at any level. Others caution that the players he brings into UNC should prepare to have their limits tested.Here’s how Taylor Swift glams up: Her secret makeup routine revealed

Trump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina KhanTrump names Andrew Ferguson as head of Federal Trade Commission to replace Lina KhanAddison O'Grady scores 12 points and No. 24 Iowa women topple Purdue 84-63Ex-OpenAI Engineer Who Raised Legal Concerns About the Technology He Helped Build Has Died

Addison O'Grady scores 12 points and No. 24 Iowa women topple Purdue 84-63Glenview passes budget without property tax increases for homeowners

Insurgents reach gates of Syria’s capital, threatening to upend decades of Assad ruleWe’ve seen an uproar since it’s become apparent that the US has given Ukraine permission to launch long-range strikes deep inside Russia. There are several reasons for this. Firstly, Moscow’s unequivocal warnings that such a move would be seen as NATO’s direct entry into the war. And secondly the fallout from the dramatic change in the political situation in the US. Of course, in foreign policy terms, it’s on the Ukrainian issue that the differences between the outgoing and incoming American administrations is most visible. And Kiev is engaged in a feverish search for ways to reverse a situation that is becoming increasingly unfavourable for its interests. Finally, there is the turmoil in Western Europe, where elites are simply unable to comprehend the magnitude of the impending change. The news, which clearly resembles a fateful turning point, was quickly downplayed, if not denied. The French and the British were quick to distance themselves from speculation that they too had immediately issued such authorizations – at an official level they repeated that they were only considering the possibility. Meanwhile, American sources close to the current ruling circles clarified the area of hypothetical use – only where hostilities are currently taking place. Most importantly, the range of reactions in Western countries was extremely wide. From the unbridled jubilation of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters among liberal NGO lobbyists, the EU’s hardline Josep Borrell and the governments of the most militant countries of Eastern Europe, to the sharp criticism of representatives of the future Donald Trump-led American administration and officials from certain European countries. To sum up, the picture is roughly as follows: the use of the weapons under discussion may complicate Russia’s actions, but will not change the overall nature of the campaign. Nevertheless, they present significant potential for escalation, the limit of which is unclear. A frequently asked question is: why has this decision, which Kiev has been seeking all year, being taken now? Again, there are several purely speculative answers. Officially, the last straw was supposedly the data on the presence of North Korean units in the area of the armed conflict. For which there is no evidence. The White House, it is said, wants to send a signal to Pyongyang that it should stop cooperating with Moscow by authorizing strikes on their alleged bases. There is no point in speculating on the veracity of these claims. But two points are worth noting. First, it is not entirely clear why the possible involvement of the North Koreans has caused such a stir. Second, why would Pyongyang’s leader Kim Jong-un, seen in Washington as a ruthless totalitarian ruler, would suddenly be frightened by such a signal and rush to reconsider his previous alleged decisions. If indeed it even happened in the first place. Another version is that the US administration understands that negotiations to end the conflict are inevitable and that Ukraine is approaching them from an increasingly unfavorable position. Accordingly, it is necessary to assist Kiev in improving its bargaining position, and the best way is to hold a bridgehead in the Kursk border area for further bartering. Whether proponents of this theory are right are wrong, we can’t say – but strangers things have happened. Finally, let’s look at what is in fact the generally accepted opinion of most commentators, both in the West and Russia. The Biden administration is trying to secure its historical legacy and make it as difficult as possible for Trump’s new team to get out of the Ukraine quagmire. In terms of legacy, of course, the situation is far from black and white – it all started with an attempt to strategically defeat Russia and reaffirm American/Western hegemony in the world. Now the task is to ensure that the conflict is prolonged in the hope of some positive changes for Ukraine and vice versa for Russia. What will come out of this is unpredictable. Some Trump associates have been very negative, accusing Biden of trying to provoke World War III. Indeed, if Trump inherits a confrontation at its peak, the responsibility will be enormous and the room to maneuver will be limited. There is, however, a view that this may be convenient for the Trumpists. After all, the new president has the right to turn American policy on its head as soon as he takes office, citing the real threat of dragging the country into direct war. This is conceivable, but it remains unclear which way Trump will turn. His approach to governing is still rooted in business, hence the endless references to the deals he will make. Trump’s first term failed to prove that business techniques can automatically transfer to international relations. And the members of his team who will influence policymaking are extremely diverse, ranging from market disruptor Elon Musk to more traditional Republican strongmen in positions in the State Department and national security apparatus. Finding a balance won’t easy. Meanwhile, everyone is entering a dangerous phase in which the chances of descending into unmanageable confrontation are greater than before. The final days of Democrat rule in Washington promise to be risky. This article was first published by the newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta and was translated and edited by the RT team

fortune gems 3 technique Election results on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean have set the background for the final stretch of campaigning for Irish parties ahead of polling day on Friday. Donald Trump’s presidential election victory in the US has brought heightened concern that his administration’s proposals around corporation tax and tariffs would significantly impact Ireland’s economic model. Mr Harris, leader of Fine Gael, has argued Ireland and other EU countries need to prepare for the possibility of trade shocks as he criticised the scale of Sinn Fein’s spending pledges as well as their saving plans. He said: “I think that is irresponsible, I think it is dangerous and I think it is reckless.” He accused Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald of not being able to say what her party was prepared to do in the event of an economic crash, adding that Fine Gael would borrow and stop putting money towards a rainy-day fund. Asked if the party was engaging in “project fear” to dissuade voters against Sinn Fein, Mr Harris said: “I call it ‘project truth’. It’s telling people what’s being discussed right across European capitals.” Ms McDonald told an RTE interview on Wednesday morning that a Sinn Fein government would also be prepared to start borrowing in the event of an economic downturn. Both Mr Harris and Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin, who were partners in the last coalition government in Ireland, have made clear they will not countenance Sinn Fein as a potential partner in the next administration in Dublin. One day after the only three-way debate featuring the leaders of the main parties, Mr Martin accused Sinn Fein of being “dishonest” about how they will fund their manifesto plans. Speaking in Dublin on Wednesday, he said he is anxious to get clarity on the issue. “I think Sinn Fein have been very dishonest, frankly, in terms of the funds, because if you go through their figures, and this is a matter of fact, not opinion, they’re predicting a surplus of a billion in 2026, a billion in 2027. “Even in 2025, they’re talking about a mini budget, which would mean reducing the surplus that we’re anticipating in 2025. “There’s a legislative obligation now on any new government to put 0.8% of GDP to one side, and into the funds. There’s no way you can do that with a surplus of a billion in 2026 or 2027, and we would argue they would not have enough funds next year either to put into the funds.” He added: “It means they have no room to manoeuvre if things go wrong, if there’s headwinds come externally, or there are shocks internationally, Sinn Fein is not allowing any headroom at all in terms of room to respond or to move it.” Ms McDonald accused the other two parties of conspiring to keep Sinn Fein out of government and prevent change in Ireland. She said the two men were now “indistinguishable” from each other as she claimed they were suffering “acute amnesia” in regard to their records in government. On a visit to Naas fire station in Co Kildare, she said: “To listen to them, you’d imagine they had just arrived on the scene and that they were going to come up with all of these solutions. “They have had ample chances, ample opportunity, to make things better, and they have failed, and in between the two of them I make the case that now we ask for our chance, with our plans, with our team, to demonstrate how change can happen, how your community, your family, yourself, can be supported when the government is actually on your side.” Mr Martin’s and Mr Harris’ coalition partner Roderic O’Gorman, the leader of the Greens, issued a warning to the public over a future government without his party. On Wednesday, he said it is looking likely that Fianna Fail and Fine Gael will be returned to government – but cautioned they may not want the Greens to continue “fighting hard” on policies. He told reporters: “My sense is certainly the mood music from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael is that they’d like an easier life in the next government – and my concern is they use these small populist parties and right-wing independents.” Mr O’Gorman argued that the Greens could continue to provide stability to government at a time when economic shocks may be around the corner. As the Green leader suggested that relying on independents would be unstable, Mr Martin has also argued that “too much fragmentation would lead to incoherence in government”. Reflecting on Tuesday night’s debate, the Fianna Fail leader said the race remained “too close to call” while Mr Harris said it is “all to play for”. The leaders of Ireland’s three main political parties clashed on housing, healthcare and financial management in the last televised debate before Friday’s General Election. The tetchy debate, which was marked by several interruptions, saw the parties set out their stalls in a broadcast that commentators said did little to move the dial before polling day. The latest opinion poll on Wednesday put the parties in a tight grouping, with Fianna Fail slightly ahead of Sinn Fein and Fine Gael in joint second. After the 2020 general election delivered an inconclusive result, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, two parties forged from opposing sides of Ireland’s Civil War of the 1920s, agreed to set aside almost a century of animosity and share power – with the Greens as a junior partner. From 2016 to 2020, Fianna Fail had supported Fine Gael in power through a confidence-and-supply arrangement from the Opposition benches in the Dail parliament. Sinn Fein won the popular vote in 2020 but a failure to run enough candidates meant it did not secure sufficient seats in the Dail to give it a realistic chance of forming a government.Aston Villa denied last-gasp winner in Juventus stalemate

Share Tweet Share Share Email As we are approaching the hottest summer days many Australians might have been searching for the most efficient way of beating the scorching heat. Unlike last summer, this season is going to be extremely hot and many people aren’t financially ready to crank their energy sucking central cooling system. What is the way forward? Coldeez Cooling ACE often written as Cold Eeze Cooling ACE has been popular in the market and Claims to use advanced evaporative technology featuring bladeless design to chill any room down in a seconds no matter the temperature. Truly, most of the similar air coolers in the past failed to meet their promises. Oftentimes most advertisers use features seen in high end Cooling systems to market cheap mass produced brands, making thousands of dollars without solving any problem. With this in mind, many people have been questioning the authenticity of the Coldeez Cooling ACE, the manufacturer, and why it is trending in Australia. Today, I’m going to give an in-depth review of the Sherum ColdEeze Cooling ACE and I will be sharing real customers’ experiences which might help you know if it is Authentic or just a hype. It is also available in some local stores, mostly in Australia where it is sold mostly. For online shoppers, I have also linked to the official website where you can get it at discounted prices as well. What Is Coldeez Cooling ACE? Coldeez Cooling ACE is a portable air cooler that uses advanced evaporative technology to chill down any room in a seconds. It is compact, portable and extremely lightweight. It is powered by an in-built lithium-ion rechargeable battery and can last for several hours without shutting down. It boasts incredible features and offers three cooling modes – Cool Mode, Chill Mode, and Freeze Mode to provide unparalleled Cooling-Off experience to beat the scorching heat. ColdEeze Cooling ACE uses innovative bladeless technology, powerful airflow and energy efficient technologies. It is ideal for cooling personal spaces, it is safe and offers a smart cooling experience all summer long. ColdEeze Cooling ACE mimics most high-end air coolers though it might not compete favourably with some top brands though it is another standout option that can keep you cold all summer long. It can be placed on a table either vertical or horizontal or can be hung on a wall in either direction as well. Coldeez Cooling ACE offers a portable cooling experience. Many people have been using it in their house, offices, kitchen, and other spaces that need to cool down. It is an advanced Cooling system with an affordable price to enable many households to buy it without feeling any financial pressure. The Coldeez Cooling ACE is a top notch Cooling system that shouldn’t be ignored. It is currently selling in Australia with thousands of happy customers and impressive 4.8 star ratings. Order ColdEeze Cooling ACE today from the official website and start saving on your cooling bills. Currently one unit is sold at around AU$90 with possible free shipping. Key Highlights Cools rooms down by 30°F in seconds 3 fan speeds – Cool, Chill and Freeze Whisper quiet operation at only 20 dB No-leak durable water tank Operates for hours on built-in battery Weighs only 1 pound for portability Costs pennies a day to run Rated 4.99/5 by customers Features Of Sherum Cold Eeze Cooling ACE Coldeez Cooling ACE comes with impressive features mostly seen in high-end air coolers pricing hundreds of dollars. Here are some of the features advertised by the manufacturer on their official website: Customizable Temperature Control: Coldeez Cooling ACE allows Users to precisely adjust the temperature to their preferred level, ensuring optimal comfort and relaxation. Variable Cooling Modes : The device offers multiple cooling settings, (Cooling mode, chilling mode and freeze mode) allowing users to select the perfect mode to suit their cooling needs. Convenient Timer Function : A built-in timer enables users to set specific cooling sessions, making it easy to optimize their cooling experience Long-Lasting Rechargeable Battery : Coldeez Cooling ACE features a rechargeable battery that provides hours of continuous use, making it perfect for extended cooling. Ergonomic and Comfortable Design : It is designed to fit comfortably in any place, ensuring optimal cooling and comfort without sacrifice. Portable and Compact Design : Coldeez Cooling ACE is designed to be portable and compact, making it easy to take on the go and use wherever cooling is needed. User-Friendly Interface : Cold Eeze Cooling ACE features an intuitive interface that makes it easy to operate and customize the cooling experience. Quiet and Discreet Operation : Cold Eeze Cooling ACE operates quietly, ensuring that users can enjoy uninterrupted cooling without distractions. Durable and Reliable Construction : It is built to last, with durable materials and construction that ensure long-lasting performance and reliability. LED Indicator Lights : LED indicator lights that display the device’s status, such as power, battery life, and cooling mode, improving user experience. Automatic Shut-Off : An automatic shut-off feature that turns off the device when the cooling time elapses or ideal temperature is reached. Bladeless Design : Its invisible blade design makes it ideal to use where there’s kids, pets etc. Bladeless design is mostly seen in high end Cooling systems. Advanced Air Filtration System : ColdEeze Cooling ACE features in-built air filters to remove dirts and dust, making it healthier to breathe. How It Is Used ColdEeze Cooling ACE is extremely easy to use. Simply charge it, place it vertically or horizontally or hang on a wall with included accessories. Turn it on, select your preferred cooling mode. Relax and enjoy the chill air it blows out. also read the instructions manual shipped with your order to get more insight on how to maximise it. Benefits Of Using Cold Eeze Cooling ACE Promotes Health and Wellbeing : It contributes to overall health and wellbeing by preventing heat-related illnesses and promoting a comfortable body temperature on the hottest summer day. Boosts Productivity and Focus : By maintaining a comfortable body temperature, Coldeez Cooling ACE enhances productivity, concentration, and overall performance. Rapid Cooling System: Coldeez Cooling ACE cools in seconds unlike conventional portable air conditioners. Safe: Designed with the current safety features, Coldeez Cooling ACE is extremely safe to use. It doesn’t emit any substance and it features bladeless design. Powerful: Though designed for your personal space, Coldeez Cooling ACE can even cool larger spaces like family lounge, larger walk-way etc. Energy Efficiency: Designed with quality materials, it is very efficient, saving more money on cooling bills without sacrificing comfort. Portable Cooling Experience: Unlike permanently installed cooling systems, Coldeez Cooling ACE offers portable cooling, making it possible for individuals to use one unit in many places such as, living rooms, and offices. Full Customization: Designed for users advantages, it offers owners the opportunity to adjust it based on their cooling needs. Extended Runtime: Powered by an advanced lithium-ion battery, it boosts an incredible runtime, capable of lasting more than 8 hours on a single charge. Space-Saving Size: Featuring a compact size, this portable device is built for tight spaces like nightstands and office desks. Limitations (Coldeez Cooling ACE Reviews) While it is Seen as a beast, it has its own obvious limitations which everyone looking to buy it must know. Here are some of its worrying downsides based on my experience with it: Limited Area Coverage : it is designed for personal cooling and may not be effective for larger areas or multiple individuals. Environmental Limitations : Coldeez Cooling ACE may not be suitable for extreme environments, such as deserts or tropical regions. Noise Level : It produces a slight humming noise during operation in some cooling modes. Price Limitations: Coldeez Cooling ACE might appear expensive for some individuals and manufacturers are not looking to reduce the price again. Is Coldeez Cooling ACE Any Good? Coldeez Cooling ACE is an ultra-fast personal cooler that can cool down the air by up to 20°F in just 30 seconds – faster and more efficient than traditional air conditioners. Also, by focusing on targeted action instead of cooling the whole room, it saves energy and reduces monthly bills greatly. It combines functionality, portability, and efficiency with advanced Cooling technology and impressive battery life making it an ideal addition to your room and office. Prices And Where To Buy? Cold Eeze Cooling ACE can be gotten from the official website at the following prices: One unit cost AU$89.99 Two units cost AU$179.98 Three units cost AU$209.97 Four units cost AU$259.97 This is the current pricing and didn’t cover any shipping though the manufacturer offers free shipping in some orders. Cold Eeze Cooling ACE Reviews From Users Our new office doesn’t have AC so I bought this device. It’s a lifesaver in the summer! It has 3 settings which you control by using the button. Low, medium and high. The price can’t be beaten. It’s incredibly energy-efficient, and it’s just really COOL.” – S. Baker Coldeez Cooling Ace is great for hot days at work. And it is fairly quiet. We have three, one for the kitchen, one for the bathroom, and one to carry with us. They cool the rooms perfectly! We love them.” – A. Horns Green Atlanta, GA Strong, easy to use, and definitely lowers the temperature in the room. It has a white-noise kind of sound even at the highest settings so it’s more soothing than anything else. No annoying noises. The best mini cooler I’ve tried. I highly recommend it! Murphy Boston, MA I tend to run hot and my coworkers that share an office with me are always cold, so this helps me stay cool at work. It is quiet so noise is not disruptive and because of the design, it doesn’t blow air into my phone so that I sound like I am in a wind tunnel. Sanchez San Francisco, CA I live with my elderly grandma who is “freezing” at anything lower than 78 degrees which leaves me disgustingly hot. So I bought this thing and it works perfectly! A lifesaver! It gets me to a much more comfortable temp during the day. I can take it in different rooms. I love Cooling Ace! Conclusion (Coldeez Cooling ACE Reviews ) Coldeez Cooling ACE is a revolutionary personal cooling solution that provides unmatched comfort and relaxation. Designed for individuals who spend extended periods in front of screens, engage in intense physical activities, or simply want to escape the heat, this cutting-edge device is the ultimate game-changer. It boasts an array of features that prioritize user comfort and convenience. Adjustable cooling settings, a built-in timer, and a rechargeable battery providing hours of continuous use make it an indispensable companion. In terms of Operating it, it is remarkably straightforward. with an intuitive interface that enables users to tailor their cooling experience with ease. Its portability is another significant advantage, allowing users to take it wherever they go. Whether you’re an avid gamer, a fitness enthusiast, or simply someone seeking to stay cool and relaxed, Coldeez Cooling ACE is the perfect solution. By combining innovative technology, user-centric design, and unparalleled performance, it redefines personal cooling. While it has some limitations, its benefits and features make it an excellent solution for individuals seeking to stay cool and comfortable all summer day. I strongly recommend it though, always buy what you believe is the best for you . Order ColdEeze Cooling ACE Today From The Official Website!!! Related Items: Cold Eeze , tech Share Tweet Share Share Email Recommended for you Prepared Hero Fire Blanket Reviews (Legit Or Not?) EXPOSED By Consumer Reports Reviewed How to Build an App: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners How to Explore the Best Chevrolet Cars for Families in 2024 CommentsWith a focus on human rights, US policy toward Latin America under Jimmy Carter briefly tempered a long tradition of interventionism in a key sphere of American influence, analysts say. Carter, who died Sunday at the age of 100, defied the furor of US conservatives to negotiate the handover of the Panama Canal to Panamanian control, suspended aid to multiple authoritarian governments in the region, and even attempted to normalize relations with Cuba. Carter's resolve to chart a course toward democracy and diplomacy, however, was severely tested in Central America and Cuba, where he was forced to balance his human rights priorities with pressure from adversaries to combat the spread of communism amid the Cold War standoff with the Soviet Union. "Latin America was fundamental and his global policy was oriented toward human rights, democratic values and multilateral cooperation," political analyst Michael Shifter of the Inter-American Dialogue, a think tank in Washington, told AFP. During his 1977-1981 administration, which was sandwiched between the Republican presidencies of Gerald Ford and Ronald Reagan, the Democrat sought to take a step back from US alignment with right-wing dictatorships in Latin America. An important symbol of Carter's approach was the signing of two treaties in 1977 to officially turn over the Panama Canal in 1999. "Jimmy Carter understood that if he did not return the canal to Panama, the relationship between the United States and Panama could lead to a new crisis in a country where Washington could not afford the luxury of instability," said Luis Guillermo Solis, a political scientist and former president of Costa Rica. Carter called the decision, which was wildly unpopular back home, "the most difficult political challenge I ever had," as he accepted Panama's highest honor in 2016. He also hailed the move as "a notable achievement of moving toward democracy and freedom." During his term, Carter opted not to support Nicaraguan strongman Anastasio Somoza, who was subsequently overthrown by the leftist Sandinista Front in 1979. But in El Salvador, the American president had to "make a very uncomfortable pact with the government," said Shifter. To prevent communists from taking power, Carter resumed US military assistance for a junta which then became more radical, engaging in civilian massacres and plunging El Salvador into a long civil war. Carter took a critical approach to South American dictatorships in Argentina, Chile, Uruguay and Paraguay, suspending arms deliveries and imposing sanctions in some cases. But his efforts "did not achieve any progress in terms of democratization," said Argentine political scientist Rosendo Fraga. The American president also tried to normalize relations with Cuba 15 years after the missile crisis. He relaxed sanctions that had been in force since 1962, supported secret talks and enabled limited diplomatic representation in both countries. "With him, for the first time, the possibility of dialogue rather than confrontation as a framework for political relations opened up," Jesus Arboleya, a former Cuban diplomat, told AFP. But in 1980, a mass exodus of 125,000 Cubans to the United States, with Fidel Castro's blessing, created an unexpected crisis. It "hurt Carter politically with the swarm of unexpected immigrants," said Jennifer McCoy, a professor of political science at Georgia State University. Castro continued to support Soviet-backed African governments and even deployed troops against Washington's wishes, finally putting an end to the normalization process. However, more than 20 years later, Carter made a historic visit to Havana as ex-president, at the time becoming the highest-profile American politician to set foot on Cuban soil since 1959. During the 2002 visit, "he made a bold call for the US to lift its embargo, but he also called on Castro to embrace democratic opening," said McCoy, who was part of the US delegation for the trip, during which Castro encouraged Carter to throw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Cuban All-Star baseball game. "Castro was sitting in the front row and we were afraid he would rise to give a long rebuttal to Carter's speech. But he didn't. He just said, 'Let's go to the ball game.'" In the years following Carter's presidency, Ronald Reagan (1981-1989) would go on to resume a full-frontal confrontation with Cuba. Decades later, Barack Obama (2009-2017) opened a new phase of measured normalization, which Donald Trump (2017-2021) brought to an end. US President Joe Biden promised to review US policy toward Cuba, but hardened his stance after Havana cracked down on anti-government protests in 2021. "Carter showed that engagement and diplomacy are more fruitful than isolation," McCoy said. bur-lp-rd-jb/lbc/mlr/bfm/sst/bbk

This Friday, University of Montana students who are wrapping up their college career at the end of this semester will walk across the stage at winter commencement, a large UM celebration. On Monday night in the University Center, UM’s LGBTQ+ student group, Lambda Alliance, gathered for a smaller, more intimate celebration of commencement. Lavender Graduation is a long-standing UM tradition. It celebrates queer student graduates in a separate ceremony, acknowledging their unique challenges and celebrating community. This semester, only one student graduated at the event: River Watson, the Lambda secretary. They received a laminated certificate, a sachet of dried lavender, and a rainbow braided cord slung around their neck. “When I moved to Montana, I was really scared because I didn’t know what the politics would be like. I didn’t know what kind of acceptance I would find here,” Lambda President Parker Mickel said. But then Mickel found Watson in a terrible English class, and felt safe and seen with someone like them. Watson would go on to help even more queer UM students feel safe and seen by teaming up with Mickel and Nicole Service to take over as the executive team of Lambda at a time when it didn’t have one and had basically no presence on campus. According to Devin Carpenter, Lambda’s adviser, Watson was a major reason that Lavender Graduation happened at all last spring. “They have been able to continue to make spaces of community and belonging despite some really long odds,” Carpenter said. Watson is a psychology major from Missoula who hopes to be a school psychologist, and is heading to grad school next. They said they found a lot of support and community at the University of Montana, and also got to know more about their own identity. “A lot of it was meeting people who also had this experience but were further along in the journey,” Watson said. Watson will be going to the larger winter commencement this weekend. But Lavender Graduation is a chance to celebrate with their peers who share their experiences. “There’s a lot of family obligations with commencement,” Watson pointed out. This means that graduates who aren’t fully out to their families can’t be their authentic selves at commencement. Mickel also found a broader community at UM. “I’ve found a lot of wonderfully supportive staff members, faculty members,” they said. “But it hasn’t been everyone.” According to those present, Lavender Graduation also acknowledges the unique challenges that queer students face on the path to graduation. For instance, deadnames (a person's name before transition) are still used in the university records systems, many buildings don’t have gender-neutral bathrooms, and Mickel said they were often misgendered during class. That’s on top of larger systems of discrimination still faced by queer people at large. “Community, I think, is one of the most important things for queer survival,” Mickel said. By the time Mickel graduates this spring, a new executive team will be elected. Though Watson will remain at UM for grad school, they plan on letting the undergrads take the lead at Lambda. But both say that they hope to help make sure Lavender Graduation takes place next semester, to give UM’s queer students a way to celebrate their community as they take their next steps.Tracyn Thayer said she wasn't expecting many cranberries this year, in part because winter flooding ruined her irrigation pond south of Bethel. But when she went to her 2-acre farm, wielding a weed whacker to clean up the tall grasses, she discovered some beautiful, deep red berries peeking out below the blades. Overall, Maine cranberry growers had a good season, said Charles Armstrong, a cranberry expert at the University of Maine Cooperative Extension who assists farms in pest management. According to his calculations, the state's 20 farms harvested approximately 500,000 pounds of berries, equating to about $850,000 for growers. Now, growers have to navigate the intense demand that comes with the holiday season. This year, Thayer only picked about 500 pounds of cranberries, compared to 7,200 pounds from her first year in operation. But buyers are still asking for more, she said. "I don't have any more to sell," she said. This is her fourth season running Birch Bog Farm in Albany Township, but the first on her own. It wasn't an easy year, as she dealt with a divorce, difficult weather and maintenance around the bog. She still works a full-time job in accounting at Apex Group. But Thayer and her mother spent about two weeks sorting the berries and filled about 30 crates to sell, she said. Thayer sold her berries to Good Food Store in Bethel, Fair Share Market in Norway and Goranson Farm in Norway. During a good season, she expands that list to include places like Rosemont Market, Royal River Natural Foods and food co-ops in Portland, and in New Hampshire in Littleton and Concord. Thayer, like many cranberry farmers in Maine, picks her crops dry, using a mechanical harvester that looks like a lawnmower with rakes attached. Harvesting starts in the beginning of October. While many people associate cranberry farms with flooded bogs, like those seen in the Ocean Spray commercials, Armstrong said dry picking extends the shelf life. Flooding the berries is the easiest, quickest way to harvest, but the moisture makes the berries go bad sooner. That's why it's ideal for juice products, he said. Typically, Maine cranberries cost about $1.75 per pound, a staggering difference from the 20-cents per pound price for flooded crops. Organic crops can go for $5 per pound, easily, he said. Thayer's organic cranberries are certified by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. People who buy direct from the farm will pay $7 per pound, $7.50 if they need the berries packaged. She charges $6 per pound wholesale and she recommends that grocers sell around $8.95 to $9.95 per pound. Karen Sparrow, who owns Sparrow Farm in Pittston, said she's not sure exactly how many pounds she harvested, but her 3 acres of bogs were full. Armstrong said she must have had a bumper crop this year. While she and her husband started the farm in 1978, her husband built the three cranberry bogs during the state's push to grow the cranberry industry in the early 1990s. The bogs' sandy soil helps the plants reproduce for years. In the winter, the bogs are flooded to protect the plants' vines. Since her husband died, Sparrow said she and her team of eight have worked harder to keep up with the demand and last-minute requests for cranberries. The farm delivers the cranberries and eggs to customers on a regular route that stretches as far south as Kittery. She met her customers over the years, and charges $7 per pound or $7.50 per pound when packaged in plastic clamshells. Portland Food Co-op produce manager Ryan Ference said he had to complete an "emergency run" to stock more of Sparrow's cranberries because it's been so busy. The store has been selling about 50 pounds per week, even before the holiday rush started. He said the store is fortunate to have good relationships with the local farms and farmers like Sparrow. "Everybody had a really rough year last year," he said. "The crops suffered. So this year has been a pretty phenomenal bounce-back year for all the farms." The co-op also stocks cranberries from Ricker Hill Orchards, which Armstrong said is one of the state's largest growers with 10 acres. The largest grower is Mingo's Products in Calais, which has 17 acres. Last week, Armstrong bought several packages of Ricker Hill cranberries at Hannaford and couldn't find a single rotten berry. That's a testament to the high quality of this year's harvest statewide, he said. "The color is really great," he said. "A nice deep red color, which Maine is kind of famous for. We have colder temperatures leading right up to harvest time. The cold nights really cause that deep, red color to form." The berries, which are a staple on Thanksgiving dinner tables, can last even longer when frozen. Sparrow recommends adding them to cereal or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. Atsuko Fujimoto, an acclaimed baker who owns Norimoto Bakery in Portland's Deering Center, said she buys all local fruits for her pastries, including Maine-grown cranberries from local supermarkets and a wholesaler called Native Maine Produce. She often goes for Ricker Hill cranberries. The fruit is reliable and isn't as difficult to find compared to other fruits like blueberries, she said. Right now, Norimoto's menu features a buckle — a classic New England dessert — and a cranberry custard tart, which Fujimoto makes every Thanksgiving and said is a customer favorite. She makes about 100 of each dessert per week, about 1,200 of each per season. Fujimoto said when the season changes, she likes to swap the buckle's blueberry topping for cranberry. She said the best way to bake with cranberry is to balance it with something sweeter, like the sweetened condensed milk she uses for the tarts. Leftover cranberry sauce tastes great over ice cream, she said. But personally, she said she loves the berry's tart flavor. "I can't think of any other berries that last so long in the fridge. It's such a stable berry," she said. "I think it's the easiest berry you can work with." Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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Steelers' Mike Tomlin Stirs Debate With Bold Take On Justin Fields' Key Play Against The BrownsLOS ANGELES , Nov. 27, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- There is still plenty of time to experience the Los Angeles Auto Show ® ! Open through Sunday, Dec. 1 , including Thanksgiving Day ( Nov. 28 ), visitors of all ages can enjoy special exhibits, major attractions, hundreds of new cars on display, and a thrilling range of test ride and drive opportunities at the Los Angeles Convention Center. Car enthusiasts and shoppers are invited to touch, feel and experience all new car, SUV and truck models, spanning gas, hybrid, and electric options, all in one location from 30 premium brands including Acura, Alfa Romeo, Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Ford, Genesis, GMC, Honda, Hummer, Hyundai, INEOS, Jeep, Kia, Lucid, Nissan, Polestar, Porsche DTLA, RAM, Rivian, Subaru, Tesla, Toyota, VinFast, Volkswagen and Volvo. Test drives and rides are the best ways to test out the latest models in a safe and stress-free environment. This year's LA Auto Show offers several indoor and outdoor test track experiences across the LA Convention Center. Included in a ticket purchase: Electric Avenue Powered By Ampure Outside South Hall: A dedicated semi-private track for attendees to experience the newest electric vehicles. Vehicles available: Cadillac LYRIQ (weekends only); Chevrolet Silverado, Blazer and Equinox; Kia EV9 GT-Line, EV6 GT and EV6 GT-Line; Lucid Air; Rivian R1T and R1S; and VinFast VF8 and VF9 Street Test Drives in Gilbert Lindsay Plaza: Get behind the wheel and test drive and ride one of the latest models on the streets of Downtown LA. Feel the pulse of the city as attendees experience the capabilities of their potential next vehicle in a no-pressure environment. Vehicles available: Chrysler Pacifica; Dodge Hornet and Durango; Fiat 500e; Jeep Wrangler, Gladiator, Grand Wagoner and Wagoneer; Ram 2500 and 1500; Subaru Ascent Onyx Edition, BRZ tS, Crosstrek Sport, Crosstrek Wilderness, Forester Touring, Impreza RS, Legacy Sport, Outback Onyx Edition XT, Outback Wilderness, Solterra Touring and WRX TR; Tesla Cybertruck, Model S, Model X, Model 3 and Model Y; Volvo XC90 T8, XC40 Recharge, EX90 and EX 30 Indoor Electric Test Tracks at Hyundai, VW and Nissan in South Hall: Test drive one of the latest Hyundai, VW and Nissan models in a one-stop hub offering immersive experiences seamlessly integrated into the automaker's displays in the South Hall of the convention center. Vehicles available indoors include: Hyundai IONIQ 5 N, IONIQ 5, IONIQ 6 and KONA Electric; Nissan ARIYA; and Volkswagen ID. Buzz Camp Jeep and Ford Bronco Built Wild - SUV & Truck Thrill Rides in South and West Halls: Experience the thrill of the Ford Bronco and Jeep's off-road capabilities as you ride along with a professional driver tackling challenging obstacles at the Ford Bronco Built Wild featuring Bronco Badlands and Camp Jeep test rides featuring Jeep Gladiator Rubicon, Wrangler, Rubicon 392 and Wrangler Rubicon 4XE This year's LA Auto Show offers car enthusiasts of all ages and levels of interest an experience they will never forget with the following activations: VIP Guided Tours with an in-person automotive expert . Each tour will highlight different areas of the show geared toward Auto Enthusiasts. All Roads Stage i s a hub of excitement showcasing unique automotive paths that lead to the heart of car culture in Los Angeles. MrCarSounds, known for his incredible ability to mimic car engine sounds, showcases his custom BMW E92 M3 November 27 & 28; TWR, a high-performance vehicle based on the chassis of the Jaguar XJS, will be on display Nov. 29 - Dec. 1 . West Coast Customs Experience is a supercharged display from West Coast Customs, featuring one-of-a-kind vehicles and a jaw-dropping selection of customs, lowriders, exotics, classics, cruisers, muscle cars, retrofits including the LA Auto Show debut of several coveted art cars. Toyota SoCal: LA Sports Stars: Toyota SoCal is bringing some of LA's top sports stars to the Los Angeles Auto Show! Visit the Toyota Display to meet Chargers player Brenden Rice on Nov. 29 from 6-7 PM and LA Kings player Anže Kopitar on Dec. 1 from 12-1 PM . Black Widow Trucks by Fox Factory (South Hall): Known for transforming trucks straight from that factory into rugged, high-performance vehicles, Black Widow Trucks combines advanced suspension technology and custom styling to create bold, off-road-ready trucks that turn heads. Cal Poly Pomona Formula FSE Team & Path to the Pits: Discover the innovation and passion behind automotive engineering and racing at the Cal Poly Pomona Formula SAE Team and Path to the Pits booth. Path to the Pits is a unique program that facilitates nationwide access to racing and career mentorship opportunities for young adults. DoVE Pet Adoptions : DoVE Project is a non-profit organization created to support the end of the dog trade by focusing on humane action on the ground creating sustainable pathways into a more compassionate future. Hyundai Interactive: Don't miss the Hyundai booth in the South Atrium to check out the Hyundai N line vehicles and take part in the Hyundai Racing Challenge and race fellow attendees. Nikola: Take a look at how Nikola Motors develops zero-emission trucks and energy infrastructure, specializing in hydrogen fuel cell and battery-electric technology for sustainable commercial transport. SPARQ: Talk to specialists on how they are establishing the Future of Automotive A.I. SPARQ by turning any vehicle in the market into an AI that car owners can directly interact with. Monterey Motorsports Festival Concours: This show-within-the-show will feature an amazing array of $20 million worth of luxury vehicles, exotics, classics, and supercars. Al & Ed's Exclusive: Al & Ed's Exclusive will be showing off a selection of amazing vehicles, highlighting the latest top-of-the-line aftermarket technology - from sound systems and in-car entertainment to navigation and vehicle tracking. Black Classics Car Club: The club is showcasing a range of classic and vintage vehicles while also supporting the Southern California community through fundraisers, charities, and serving as role models. Chariots: The official merchandise provider for this year's LA Auto Show. The Los Angeles -based brand has made it its mission to bring style and class to the automotive lifestyle world. South Bay Popups: On display are vehicles representing every aspect of Los Angeles car culture, from tricked out low riders and motorcycles to well loved street cars and vans. Digital Overdrive SIM Racing and Esports: The first official Sim Racing and Esports activation at the LA Auto Show features professional sim racing rigs, a competitive gaming arena, interactive demos, and exciting giveaways throughout the show including Next Level Racing sim racing rigs, Thrustmaster Gamepads and Controllers, and custom-built PCs. And so much more with food trucks on weekends, plenty of activities for kids and families, celebrity and sports autograph signings, luxury ride-ons, hard-to-find collectibles and something new around every corner. The Los Angeles Auto Show is open through Sunday, Dec. 1 including Thanksgiving Day. Operating hours are: Wednesday, Nov. 27 , 11AM to 7PM ; Thursday, Nov. 28 , 9AM to 4PM ; Friday, Nov. 29 - Saturday, Nov. 30 , 9AM to 10PM ; and Sunday, Dec. 1, 9AM to 6PM . Tickets Tickets for the Los Angeles Auto Show are on sale now and can be purchased online at laautoshow.com/tickets with a credit card or bank card. Stay up to date with the latest show news, updates, and information, follow the LA Auto Show on X , Facebook , Instagram , or LinkedIn and sign up for alerts at laautoshow.com . About the Los Angeles Auto Show & AutoMobility LA Founded in 1907, the Los Angeles Auto ShowTM is recognized as one of the world's most influential automotive events. The show celebrates the enduring love that Angelenos have for their cars and offers a global platform for industry debuts, technology, and innovation. Doors are open to the public Nov. 22 – Dec. 1 and the show runs for 10 full days, including Thanksgiving Day. It is a must-attend event for prospective car buyers, industry executives, influencers, car enthusiasts, and for families wanting to enjoy an unforgettable day out during the holiday season. Held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, the LA Auto Show contributes several hundred million dollars to the city's economy, stimulates the local job market, and is the number one revenue generator for the Center. On Nov. 21 , AutoMobility LA 2024 , the show's media and industry day, included a range of groundbreaking debuts and announcements, and a conference program featuring the leading minds in automotive and technology. These experts explored the most pressing industry issues in a series of presentations and panel discussions from AutoMobility LA's main stage. Media Contacts Kat Kirsch [email protected] Tania Weinkle [email protected] SOURCE Los Angeles Auto Show

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Donald Trump's incoming chairman of the Federal Communications Commission sent a stern letter to Disney CEO Bob Iger that's seen as a threat to other news media outlets, and Democratic strategist Maria Cardona warned that these preemptive moves could alienate voters. Trump appointee Brendan Carr signaled that he would take a more active role policing the media industry, pointing to the $15 million defamation settlement ABC News reached with the president-elect, and Cardona expressed alarm that the incoming administration was already pursuing his perceived political enemies. "I think that the administration is making overtures to what we know Trump wants to do, which is exactly what you underscored, and I think what they have to be really careful about both the FCC chair, as well as everyone who is incoming heads of agencies, heads of the departments, is this massive overreach that the Trump administration is signaling that they want to embark on," Cardona told CNN . "I think it is they are overconfident about the quote, unquote, mandate that they think they have, which is not a real mandate." "Democrats did lose the House, the Senate and the White House , but this is still a very divided country," Cardona added. "Donald Trump didn't even get to 50 percent of the popular vote – 7,000 votes are what separates Democratic control of the House from Republican control of the House, and the Senate still has small margins for Republicans, and so they have to be really careful about this kind of overreach, because that is not what the American people voted for." ALSO READ: Why ABC settled a case they knew they would win — and why the Lincoln Project didn't She argued that Trump has already abandoned his core campaign promise to reduce prices on food and other consumer goods. "The American people voted for Trump to bring down grocery prices, bring down high housing prices, and that's like the last thing that he's been talking about in these last several weeks," Cardona said, "and I think it's it's going to be something that is a very big risk for Republicans." Watch the video below or at this link. - YouTube youtu.beNoDerog/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Founded in 1872, Kimberly-Clark Corporation ( NYSE: KMB ) is a large multinational paper products company with an emphasis on baby, child, and family care. Income-focused investors have long prized KMB stock for its stable and predictable If you enjoyed this, consider Ian's Insider Corner to enjoy access to similar initiation reports for all the new stocks that we buy. Membership also includes an active chat room, weekly updates, and my responses to your questions. Ian Bezek is a former hedge fund analyst at Kerrisdale Capital. He has spent the decade living in Latin America, doing the boots-on-the ground research for investors interested in markets such as Mexico, Colombia, and Chile. He also specializes in high-quality compounders and growth stocks at reasonable prices in the US and other developed markets. Ian leads the investing group Ian's Insider Corner . Features of the group include: the Weekend Digest which covers everything from new ideas to updates on current holdings and macro analysis, trade alerts, an active chat room, and direct access to Ian. Learn More . Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article. Seeking Alpha's Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.fortune gems how to win 。

Maybe Rachel Maddow missed it, but Biden's entire admin has been a joke for the past four years, especially when it comes to dealing with foreign policy and of course, hostage situations. How absolutely brainless does she have to be to rant about Trump's ambassador and hostage envoy picks while Hamas still has American hostages? Then again, this is Maddow we're talking about ... let's not pretend she's actually doing anything more than performing for the dozens of drunk cat ladies who still watch MSNBC. No offense to our Republican cat ladies who do not watch Maddow. Ahem. Watch this hot mess: Rachel Maddow mocks Trump’s ambassador and hostage envoy picks. Biden oversaw the most embassy evacuations from any president in history. There are currently 7 American citizens still being held hostage by Hamas t*rrorists for over a year already. During Biden’s term, multiple... pic.twitter.com/LPmS7bzO8N Her post continues: During Biden’s term, multiple countries had coups and their governments toppled. I’ll take mean tweets and world peace! Maddow is so desperate to matter she'll clearly say anything. She's been doing it for years and years ... remember when a court ruled she was nothing more than entertainment and her viewers know that? Good times. If the only time you show concern for the 7 Americans held hostage by Hamas is to blame Trump for appointing a special envoy to get them back, you really don't care about the hostages. Hatred for Trump has completely broken Rachel Maddow's moral compass. Psh, she'd have to have a moral compass first in order for it to be broken. What even IS Rachel Maddow? Don't look at us, man, we just work here. pic.twitter.com/QrArwDJlOJ Oopsies. Donald Trump doesn't just live in @maddow brain, rent free--he has an entire chain of hotels in there. He's raised 5 generations of his family in there. Her viewership needs her to talk about him. She is paid because he exists. It's peotry. There's even a Trump Plaza in there. Why does anyone care what that man says? HAAAAAAAAAAA. LEAVE CHRIS HAYES ALONE! She gets paid to purposely mock all things Trump. That is the sole existence of MSNBC these days. Which is why they are slowly going out of business. Democrats are the last people to criticize Trump’s picks. Biden appointed people based on their identity, not merit. If only Trump had picked members of his admin based on their sex, color, and whatever bizarre pronoun they are using that day. Maybe THEN Maddow wouldn't be so critical. =========================================================================== Related: SUCH a Tool: Anthony Scaramucci Threatens Elon Musk to Stay Out of Politics and HOOBOY Was THAT Ever Dumb Her Own Personal KRYPTONITE! Top Trump Campaign Pollster Shares Which of Their Ads NUKED Kamala the Most 'INSANE': Mollie Hemingway Takes House Ethics Report on Matt Gaetz APART with Just 1 Teensy Bit of Proof Run Forrest, RUN! WATCH AOC Try and Escape Nick Sortor Asking Her to Condemn Biden Migrant Crisis (Video) DISGRACE: Cori Bush PRAISES Biden for SAVING Mass Murderers and Rapists from RACIST Death Penalty (Yikes) ===========================================================================This $139 Robot Vacuum Is All You Need, Don’t Waste $1,000 on Something That Doesn’t WorkOur community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info As we begin the countdown to the Most Wonderful Time of the Year, it’s time to deck the halls, start thinking about what you will eat on the big day and make a dent in the Christmas shopping. The Royal Family is notorious for their special festive traditions, from opening presents on Christmas Eve to allegedly banning the game Monopoly. But the best unique tradition is surely how the family buy one another joke presents each year. Among funny stories of leather toilet seats, singing hamsters and shower caps, one gift Kate Middleton bought Prince Harry before he married surely takes the crown. Adding to the long list of almost unbelievable gifts the royals have exchanged, one year saw the Princess of Wales triumph with what she bought her brother-in-law before he met his wife, Meghan Markle . She bought him a rather awkward ‘Grow-your-own girlfriend kit’. The item can be bought cheaply online and grows to six-times its normal size. It seems the Duchess was mocking the then-bachelor’s love life. Prince Harry did not only receive funny gifts, but gave them too. It was reported that one year he opted for a shower cap which read "ain't life a b****" for none other than the late Queen . As for how Christmas will be spent at Sandringham, there are many traditions which stretch back to the Royal Family's German roots. For decades, they have continued to follow the festive tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve - but that isn't the only way members of the family honour their historic ties. Speaking ahead of Queen Elizabeth II's death, royal expert Robert Jobson told The Express: “On Christmas Eve when all the clan are together, the Queen’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren put the finishing touches to the 20ft Christmas tree in the White Drawing Room. “Presents will be opened that day at tea time as the royals still keep to the German practise of opening their gifts on Christmas Eve.” He continued: “Gifts are laid out in the Red Drawing Room on a white linen-covered trestle table, with cards marking exactly where the piles of gifts should be put. "Once everyone has arrived, the royal guests enjoy a traditional Christmas that includes putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree and the giving of cheap and humorous gifts.”None

Former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger did not hold back on the NFL for having four teams play three games in 11 days. The Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, Baltimore Ravens and Houston Texans are going through a crammed three-game gauntlet, and it all centers around the NFL wanting a doubleheader to be featured on Netflix on Christmas Day. “It’s miserable. It’s a shame that the league does this. It just shows that it’s all about money and this is a way that they can, you know, make more money and figure this thing out because it’s not fair for the players,” Ben Roethlisberger said on his Footbahlin podcast. “You wanna talk about injuries and making the game safer, changing the kickoff rule and preventing guys on hip-drop tackles, and concussions, and this that and the other, and you’re going to make guys play the most violent game in the world, arguably, three games in 11 days. I mean, there’s no time for your body to get healthy and rest.” Netflix shelled out a reported $150 million for rights to the games. It’s the first time one of the four major professional sports leagues in the U.S. will be aired live on Netflix. Christmas falls on a Wednesday this year, so the schedule is definitely wonky. But the NFL wasn’t going to pass up an astronomical payday from the leader in subscription streaming, even if it’s clearly not the best practice for player safety. Steelers defensive tackle and NFLPA representative Cameron Heyward was not shy in expressing his frustrations with the schedule on Monday. “Yeah, I think that’s definitely a concern,” Heyward said when asked about player safety. “It’s a PA thing as well as an NFL thing. You don’t want to mess up the product, but we’ve been saying this since we got Thursday night games. It’s not easy.” The Steelers aren’t the only ones upset about having to play on Wednesday. Their Christmas day opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs, have also voiced their opinions on the matter. Chiefs safety Justin Reid said he wasn’t a fan of the schedule when it was released and that’s still the case. “When it came out, I thought it was horrible,” Justin Reid said via Vahe Gregorian of The Kansas City Star. “And I still think it’s horrible. But it is what it is.” Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones also weighed in a few weeks ago before beginning a similar schedule as the Steelers. “One thing I’m doing this offseason is going to the NFLPA, especially with us having like three games in a 10-day span, that we’re mandatory to have a late bye week because with our schedule it’s kind of awkward, to say the least,” Jones said . “I think that’s a conversation to be had this offseason.” Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes was quoted recently as not being much of a fan of playing three games over an 11-day span, as well. “It’s not a good feeling,” he told the Associated Press. “You never want to play this amount of games in this short of time. It’s not great for your body. But, at the end of the day, it’s your job, your profession. You have to come to work and do it.” Alan Saunders and Aaron Becker contributed reporting for this story . This article first appeared on Steelers Now and was syndicated with permission.

Dana Hull | (TNS) Bloomberg News Jared Birchall, Elon Musk’s money manager and the head of his family office, is listed as the chief executive officer. Jehn Balajadia, a longtime Musk aide who has worked at SpaceX and the Boring Co., is named as an official contact. Related Articles National Politics | Biden will decide on US Steel acquisition after influential panel fails to reach consensus National Politics | Biden vetoes once-bipartisan effort to add 66 federal judgeships, citing ‘hurried’ House action National Politics | A history of the Panama Canal — and why Trump can’t take it back on his own National Politics | President-elect Trump wants to again rename North America’s tallest peak National Politics | Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use But they’re not connected to Musk’s new technology venture, or the political operation that’s endeared him to Donald Trump. Instead, they’re tied to the billionaire’s new Montessori school outside Bastrop, Texas, called Ad Astra, according to documents filed with state authorities and obtained via a Texas Public Information Act request. The world’s richest person oversees an overlapping empire of six companies — or seven, if you include his political action committee. Alongside rockets, electric cars, brain implants, social media and the next Trump administration, he is increasingly focused on education, spanning preschool to college. One part of his endeavor was revealed last year, when Bloomberg News reported that his foundation had set aside roughly $100 million to create a technology-focused primary and secondary school in Austin, with eventual plans for a university. An additional $137 million in cash and stock was allotted last year, according to the most recent tax filing for the Musk Foundation. Ad Astra is closer to fruition. The state documents show Texas authorities issued an initial permit last month, clearing the way for the center to operate with as many as 21 pupils. Ad Astra’s website says it’s “currently open to all children ages 3 to 9.” The school’s account on X includes job postings for an assistant teacher for preschool and kindergarten and an assistant teacher for students ages 6 to 9. To run the school, Ad Astra is partnering with a company that has experience with billionaires: Xplor Education, which developed Hala Kahiki Montessori school in Lanai, Hawaii, the island 98% owned by Oracle Corp. founder Larry Ellison. Ad Astra sits on a highway outside Bastrop, a bedroom community about 30 miles from Austin and part of a region that’s home to several of Musk’s businesses. On a visit during a recent weekday morning, there was a single Toyota Prius in the parking lot and no one answered the door at the white building with a gray metal roof. The school’s main entrance was blocked by a gate, and there was no sign of any children on the grounds. But what information there is about Ad Astra makes it sound like a fairly typical, if high-end, Montessori preschool. The proposed schedule includes “thematic, STEM-based activities and projects” as well as outdoor play and nap time. A sample snack calendar features carrots and hummus. While Birchall’s and Balajadia’s names appear in the application, it isn’t clear that they’ll have substantive roles at the school once it’s operational. Musk, Birchall and Balajadia didn’t respond to emailed questions. A phone call and email to the school went unanswered. Access to high quality, affordable childcare is a huge issue for working parents across the country, and tends to be an especially vexing problem in rural areas like Bastrop. Many families live in “childcare deserts” where there is either not a facility or there isn’t an available slot. Opening Ad Astra gives Musk a chance to showcase his vision for education, and his support for the hands-on learning and problem solving that are a hallmark of his industrial companies. His public comments about learning frequently overlap with cultural concerns popular among conservatives and the Make America Great Again crowd, often focusing on what he sees as young minds being indoctrinated by teachers spewing left-wing propaganda. He has railed against diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and in August posted that “a lot of schools are teaching white boys to hate themselves.” Musk’s educational interests dovetail with his new role as Trump’s “first buddy.” The billionaire has pitched a role for himself that he — and now the incoming Trump administration — call “DOGE,” or the Department of Government Efficiency. Though it’s not an actual department, DOGE now posts on X, the social media platform that Musk owns. “The Department of Education spent over $1 billion promoting DEI in America’s schools,” the account posted Dec. 12. Back in Texas, Bastrop is quickly becoming a key Musk point of interest. The Boring Co., his tunneling venture, is based in an unincorporated area there. Across the road, SpaceX produces Starlink satellites at a 500,000-square-foot (46,000-square-meter) facility. Nearby, X is constructing a building for trust and safety workers. Musk employees, as well as the general public, can grab snacks at the Boring Bodega, a convenience store housed within Musk’s Hyperloop Plaza, which also contains a bar, candy shop and hair salon. Ad Astra is just a five-minute drive away. It seems to have been designed with the children of Musk’s employees — if not Musk’s own offspring — in mind. Musk has fathered at least 12 children, six of them in the last five years. “Ad Astra’s mission is to foster curiosity, creativity, and critical thinking in the next generation of problem solvers and builders,” reads the school’s website. A job posting on the website of the Montessori Institute of North Texas says “While their parents support the breakthroughs that expand the realm of human possibility, their children will grow into the next generation of innovators in a way that only authentic Montessori can provide.” The school has hired an executive director, according to documents Bloomberg obtained from Texas Health and Human Services. Ad Astra is located on 40 acres of land, according to the documents, which said a 4,000-square-foot house would be remodeled for the preschool. It isn’t uncommon for entrepreneurs to take an interest in education, according to Bill Gormley, a professor emeritus at the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University who studies early childhood education. Charles Butt, the chairman of the Texas-based H-E-B grocery chain, has made public education a focus of his philanthropy. Along with other business and community leaders, Butt founded “Raise Your Hand Texas,” which advocates on school funding, teacher workforce and retention issues and fully funding pre-kindergarten. “Musk is not the only entrepreneur to recognize the value of preschool for Texas workers,” Gormley said. “A lot of politicians and business people get enthusiastic about education in general — and preschool in particular — because they salivate at the prospect of a better workforce.” Musk spent much of October actively campaigning for Trump’s presidential effort, becoming the most prolific donor of the election cycle. He poured at least $274 million into political groups in 2024, including $238 million to America PAC, the political action committee he founded. While the vast majority of money raised by America PAC came from Musk himself, it also had support from other donors. Betsy DeVos, who served as education secretary in Trump’s first term, donated $250,000, federal filings show. The Department of Education is already in the new administration’s cross hairs. Trump campaigned on the idea of disbanding the department and dismantling diversity initiatives, and he has also taken aim at transgender rights. “Rather than indoctrinating young people with inappropriate racial, sexual, and political material, which is what we’re doing now, our schools must be totally refocused to prepare our children to succeed in the world of work,” Trump wrote in Agenda 47, his campaign platform. Musk has three children with the musician Grimes and three with Shivon Zilis, who in the past was actively involved at Neuralink, his brain machine interface company. All are under the age of five. Musk took X, his son with Grimes, with him on a recent trip to Capitol Hill. After his visit, he shared a graphic that showed the growth of administrators in America’s public schools since 2000. Musk is a fan of hands-on education. During a Tesla earnings call in 2018, he talked about the need for more electricians as the electric-car maker scaled up the energy side of its business. On the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020, Musk said that “too many smart people go into finance and law.” “I have a lot of respect for people who work with their hands and we need electricians and plumbers and carpenters,” Musk said while campaigning for Trump in Pennsylvania in October. “That’s a lot more important than having incremental political science majors.” Ad Astra’s website says the cost of tuition will be initially subsidized, but in future years “tuition will be in line with local private schools that include an extended day program.” “I do think we need significant reform in education,” Musk said at a separate Trump campaign event. “The priority should be to teach kids skills that they will find useful later in life, and to leave any sort of social propaganda out of the classroom.” With assistance from Sophie Alexander and Kara Carlson. ©2024 Bloomberg News. Visit at bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Sportspersons’ respect for late Dr Manmohan Singh’s ‘quiet strength’

Congress Rajya Sabha member Digvijaya Singh on Tuesday wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding a probe by a sitting High Court judge into the corruption in the Madhya Pradesh Transport Department. The MP Lokayukta's Special Police Establishment earlier this week conducted searches at Bhopal properties of a former constable with the department and seized assets worth around Rs 8 crore besides documents related to real estate investments. Singh shared his letter to the PM with the media in the state capital. The former CM revealed there was pressure on then-Chief Minister Kamal Nath to appoint Govind Rajput as transport minister in the Congress government. Rajput was one of the Congress leaders who, led by Jyotiraditya Scindia, joined the BJP in March 2020 and caused the fall of the Nath-led Congress regime. Rajput was not available immediately for a comment. ''I demand investigation of the transport scam under the supervision of the Chief Justice of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The benami (proxy) properties found during the investigation should be confiscated and money be deposited with the government treasury,'' Singh stated in his letter. The Enforcement Directorate (ED), too, should register a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in the matter, the former chief minister demanded. Singh's letter named several persons, and also spoke of corruption at `check barriers' put up by the transport department. On December 19, nearly Rs 3 crore in cash and 200 kg of silver ingots along with documents of benami properties were found at the residence of former constable Saurabh Sharma, as per the Lokayukta police. As much as 52 kg of gold and Rs 11 crore in cash were found in a car owned by an associate of the constable, and the Income Tax Department has seized a diary in which names of officers, political leaders and businessmen are mentioned, the Congress leader claimed. Asked about Singh's allegations, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, ''Our government has continued the policy of fighting corruption. We have closed check barriers from the very first day. We are against corruption at every level.'' In a related development, the All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), alleging large-scale corruption in the department, on Tuesday sent a letter to Yadav, demanding a high-level probe into its activities. The apex body of transporters, in the letter, sought an inquiry into the department's activities over the past two decades by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a retired judge of the Supreme Court or the Madhya Pradesh HC. The AIMTC made the demand citing the recent revelations related to assets owned by former constable Sharma. C L Mukati, chairman of AIMTC's national RTO and transport committee, told PTI in Indore that the organisation's top officials have sent the letter to the Chief Minister. Citing the raids on the premises of Sharma, the letter said departmental employees whose assets disproportionate to their income have been revealed so far are just ''small fishes'' and it is necessary to identify the ''real culprits'' and ''masterminds'' and bring them to justice. The letter said properties owned by officials of Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) should be investigated and strict legal action taken if they are found to be been acquired through ill-gotten wealth. The missive said all processes related to making driving licenses, registration of vehicles and fitness certification should be done online so that human intervention and possibilities for bribery can be reduced. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)Stock market today: Tech stocks and AI pull Wall Street toward more recordsISSAQUAH, Wash., Dec. 04, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Costco Wholesale Corporation (“Costco” or the “Company”) (Nasdaq: COST) today reported net sales of $21.87 billion for the retail month of November, the four weeks ended December 1, 2024, an increase of 5.6 percent from $20.71 billion last year. For the twelve-week first quarter ended November 24, 2024, the Company reported net sales of $60.99 billion, an increase of 7.5 percent from $56.72 billion last year. Net sales for the first thirteen weeks were $66.52 billion, an increase of 7.2 percent from $62.04 billion last year. Comparable sales were as follows: Comparable sales excluding the impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange were as follows: E-commerce sales in November were negatively impacted by an estimated 15 percentage points, due to Thanksgiving / Black Friday / Cyber Monday occurring a week later this year versus last year. Total and comparable sales were negatively impacted by approximately one and one-half percent as a result of the shift in E-commerce sales. Additional discussion of these results is available in a pre-recorded message. It can be accessed by visiting investor.costco.com (click on “Events & Presentations”). This message will be available through 4:00 p.m. (PT) on Wednesday, December 11, 2024. Costco currently operates 897 warehouses, including 617 in the United States and Puerto Rico, 109 in Canada, 41 in Mexico, 36 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 19 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan, seven in China, five in Spain, two in France, and one each in Iceland, New Zealand and Sweden. Costco also operates e-commerce sites in the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Mexico, Korea, Taiwan, Japan and Australia. Certain statements contained in this document and the pre-recorded message constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. For these purposes, forward-looking statements are statements that address activities, events, conditions or developments that the Company expects or anticipates may occur in the future. In some cases forward-looking statements can be identified because they contain words such as “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “likely,” “may,” “might,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “seek,” “should,” “target,” “will,” “would,” or similar expressions and the negatives of those terms. Such forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events, results or performance to differ materially from those indicated by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, domestic and international economic conditions, including exchange rates, inflation or deflation, the effects of competition and regulation, uncertainties in the financial markets, consumer and small business spending patterns and debt levels, breaches of security or privacy of member or business information, conditions affecting the acquisition, development, ownership or use of real estate, capital spending, actions of vendors, rising costs associated with employees (generally including health-care costs and wages), workforce interruptions, energy and certain commodities, geopolitical conditions (including tariffs), the ability to maintain effective internal control over financial reporting, regulatory and other impacts related to environmental and social matters, public-health related factors, and other risks identified from time to time in the Company’s public statements and reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and the Company does not undertake to update these statements, except as required by law. Comparable sales and comparable sales excluding impacts from changes in gasoline prices and foreign exchange are intended as supplemental information and are not a substitute for net sales presented in accordance with U.S. GAAP. COST-Sales

( MENAFN - Live Mint) Iran said it will start easing some of the world's tightest internet restrictions by lifting its ban on WhatsApp and google Play - a sign that authorities want to placate domestic opponents as the Islamic Republic faces major economic and foreign-policy challenges. Earlier on Tuesday, Iran's Supreme Council of Cyberspace approved the lifting of blocks on“certain widely used foreign platforms” according to the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency, which named WhatsApp and Google Play as the first two applications to be unblocked. Since the 2009 protests against the reelection of hardliner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, social media networks including Facebook, X and YouTube have been banned or restricted by authorities who've blamed them for facilitating protests and fomenting opposition to the state. Iran's government has faced criticism for years from ordinary Iranians, Western governments, the United Nations and political activists for its draconian attitude toward the internet. Officials - most of whom use banned social media sites to run their own public-facing accounts - often fail to deliver on promises to reduce censorship. Instead, it's increased significantly over the past 10 years. It's not clear when Tuesday's decision will come into effect. IRNA said it was reached by a unanimous vote at a council meeting attended by the head of the judiciary and reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian who'd pledged to relax internet freedoms for Iranians when he was elected in July. The move comes as the Islamic Republic, already widely unpopular at home following a nationwide 2022 uprising that was brutally suppressed, is locked in a standoff with Israel for supporting Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Earlier: Iran Protests Show the Depth of Nation's Economic, Social Pain Both groups - designated as terrorist organizations by the US and its allies - have been crippled by Israel's military response to the October 2023 attacks by Hamas. The ouster of Bashar al-Assad in Syria has also upended Iran's foreign policy at a time when it's struggling to keep the lights on for industry and households amid a major fuel and natural-gas crisis. “The process of lifting cyberspace restrictions will be multistaged and ongoing, and it won't be limited to the removal of restrictions on one or a few platforms,” IRNA said. Complete internet blackouts have often been imposed on Iranians, including during protests in November 2019 and the 2022 nationwide uprising, which prompted the US government at the time to ease restrictions on internet services to Iran, such as Elon Musk's Starlink. MENAFN24122024007365015876ID1109028366 Legal Disclaimer: MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday faced significant volatility as the benchmark KSE-100 index dropped 1,510 points, or 1.33%. Analysts attributed the bearish sentiment to profit-taking amid pressure from the approaching rollover of futures contracts and uncertainty surrounding the outcome of ongoing talks between the government and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The index initially surged by 1,112 points, reflecting early optimism, but later plunged by 1,629 points, driven by profit-taking and concerns over leverage positions and borrowing costs. The cautious market behaviour was also influenced by the approaching end-of-year contract deadline, which added to the pressure on investors. Despite the decline, there was active trading with a volume of 881 million shares and a value of Rs54 billion. Ahsan Mehanti of Arif Habib Corp commented that profit-taking was witnessed at the PSX amid pressure from futures contracts rollover and uncertainty about the outcome of patch-up talks between the government and PTI. He added that a weak rupee, falling global crude oil prices, and institutional selling in overbought shares played the role of catalysts in the bearish activity. At the end of trading, the benchmark KSE-100 index recorded a decline of 1,509.61 points, or 1.33%, and settled at 112,414.81. In its review, Topline Securities commented that the KSE-100 index exhibited significant volatility as market sentiment remained uncertain. The index climbed to the intra-day high of 1,112 points early in the session, reflecting some optimism, but later tumbled to the intra-day low of 1,629 points due to profit-taking, Topline said. It added that the market's downturn was primarily driven by concerns over rising leverage positions, which heightened risk perceptions. This, combined with increasing borrowing costs, compelled investors to trim their portfolios. Furthermore, the approaching last few days of December contract put additional pressure on market participants, resulting in a cautious and selective trading behaviour. Fauji Fertiliser Company, Mari Petroleum, MCB Bank, Hub Power and Engro Corporation emerged as major laggards of the day, collectively dragging the index down by 850 points, Topline said. In its report, Arif Habib Limited (AHL) noted that the KSE-100 index backed off following a sharp two-day rally and closed down by 1.33%, ahead of the December 25 holiday. Some 71 shares rose, while 27 fell, with UBL (+2.72%), Dawood Hercules Corporation (+3.3%) and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Ltd (+6.35%) contributing the most to index gains. On the other hand, Fauji Fertiliser Company (-3.65%), Mari Petroleum (-3.37%) and MCB Bank (-3.84%) were the biggest drags, according to the AHL report. JS Global analyst Muhammad Hasan Ather commented that the downturn was primarily driven by profit-taking following an early surge fuelled by political stability and favourable economic prospects. Despite the decline, the index's rise to the intra-day high of 115,036 demonstrated renewed investor confidence, he said. Ather noted that the market's overall positive momentum was supported by improving macroeconomic indicators, including a significant current account surplus and increased foreign investment. These robust economic fundamentals continue to signal a promising outlook for the market, offering potential growth opportunities for investors, he said. Overall trading volumes increased to 880.6 million shares compared to Monday's tally of 857.8 million. Shares of 456 companies were traded. Of these, 129 stocks closed higher, 288 fell and 39 remained unchanged. WorldCall Telecom was the volume leader with trading in 127.4 million shares, gaining Rs0.06 to close at Rs1.78. It was followed by Fauji Foods with 67.1 million shares, gaining Rs0.46 to close at Rs14.95 and Sui Southern Gas Company with 33.6 million shares, losing Rs0.39 to close at Rs46.09. During the day, foreign investors sold shares worth Rs617.8 million, the National Clearing Company of Pakistan reported. COMMENTS Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive. For more information, please see our

Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug useWork on runway extention to begin soon: MoS Mohol

Are you tracking your health with a device? Here’s what could happen with the dataKirk Herbstreit was “really honored” to receive a heartfelt letter from President Joe Biden following the death of his beloved dog Ben last month. In a post shared Wednesday on X, the “College GameDay” analyst uploaded an image of the personal note he received from Biden, who recognized the “comfort and unconditional love” Ben brought to “millions of Americans across our Nation.” “Politics aside-REALLY honored to receive this personal note from @POTUS sharing his appreciation and compassion for the loss of our beloved Ben,” Herbstreit, 55, shared. “I can only hope that Ben knows how many people he touched.” In the letter, dated Nov. 22, Biden offered his condolences and expressed that he knows what Herbstreit is going through. “I know what it is like to lose a beloved pet, and I hope you can find some comfort in cherishing the beautiful memories you shared with Ben,” Biden wrote. Before closing the memo with his signature, Biden remarked of Ben: “He was a good boy.” Ben joined Herbstreit on the road as part of the analyst’s “Thursday Night Football” and “College GameDay” duties for Amazon and ESPN, respectively. Ben became a fan favorite and often made appearances on the field and on broadcasts. Herbstreit spoke about Ben’s health in a September post on X, sharing his four-legged companion underwent “major surgery in late July to remove 2 masses on his spleen and intestine. Both cancerous.” Ben had been diagnosed with leukemia in March. “Been a challenging offseason for Ben but he has had an incredible recovery in the last few weeks. Just so thankful he’s feeling better and able to travel with me. Honestly I think being out and seeing people on the road really helps his spirit and gives him something to look forward to,” Herbstreit told a follower. Herbstreit provided a heartbreaking update on Ben’s progress in early November, revealing he had been “getting worse and worse” following a second “chemo injection” on Oct. 23. Herbstreit confirmed on Nov. 7 that Ben had sadly passed away. “This is really hard to write but so many of you have loved and cared about Ben that I wanted to let you know. We found out today the cancer had spread throughout Bens organs and there was nothing left we could do-we had to let him go,” Herbstreit penned in an emotional social media post. “I’ve had dogs my whole life but Ben was 1 on 1. He was smart-loving-gentle-patient-inquisitive-and welcoming to all. Always a big smile and a soft tail wag. He and I could communicate..he and I understood each other and had each others backs. He was with me more than anyone at home and traveling with me for work. Such an easy going companion. Hard day-but he will live within all of us forever. God please bless his majestic soul and thank you for putting him in my life for the last 10 years-a true blessing. Love you Ben.” Herbstreit and his family have received an outpouring of support following Ben’s passing, with “College GameDay” putting together a touching tribute to Ben days later. “Really wanted to thank all of you for the avalanche of love and support you’ve shown Ben,” Herbstreit posted on X at the time. “It gives me and my family such comfort knowing how he impacted so many peoples lives around the country. He was a beautiful and loving soul.” Herbstreit’s pup, Peter, has joined him on the road in recent weeks.

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Takanashi Kiara is not like other girls. The cliche applies to her in a literal sense. She’s a Vtuber , a term for a content creator who streams using an anime avatar. When Kiara appears on a stream, viewers watch a bubbly anime girl with bright orange hair and blue highlights. Kiara, the character, is a star. The person who voices her remains anonymous, but is signed to the Vtuber talent agency Hololive and has garnered worldwide acclaim in the role. At the time of publication, Kiara’s YouTube channel has more than 1.55 million subscribers and she’s starred in live concerts as a hologram. Her fans are known as “Kiara Fried Phoenix” or KFP, a reference to the lore behind her character, which evokes a lightheartedness that characterizes much of her work. Kiara gleefully switches between the contrasting roles of glamorous popstar and laid-back video game personality. She will blurt out “ I have diarrhea ” on a stream, but then go perform a commanding solo at a sold-out concert . On top of it all, she has taken on the role of an educator and teaches her U.S.-based fans about Japanese idol culture and the ins and outs of Vtubers via a talk show she hosts. To learn more about KFP, her growing music career, and what it’s been like to perform live, Polygon conducted an interview with her virtually via written responses. [ Ed. note: This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.] Polygon: I met some of your fans and one said that you actively manage your community. Now, some of your fans organize the larger Hololive community. How do you interpret your influence on your fans? Takanashi Kiara: I am always very happy to see KFP pick up on things that I share with them. When [the first group of English-speaking members of Hololive] first debuted, we were the first in our branch, and I think I was the most knowledgeable about Japanese idol culture. So I wanted to share it with my audience. How to cheer for them, how to dress at concerts and so on! I always hear that KFP has been taking a leading role in non-Japan events of our company in terms of teaching chants and cheers and organizing stuff. I’m so glad that the community that I have been building has turned out to be such a pleasant and fun one! In your opinion, what is the wildest thing your fans have ever done for you? Traveling over continents to see me for example in Japan or Germany or just any continent that they are not from! My fans come from various continents and seeing how committed some are to travel, I appreciate them so much for showing up to support me! But even the ones who can’t travel for whatever reason also show me their love and support in many other ways. I do hope everyone gets a chance to see a concert in person one day, feel the atmosphere of the packed venues and socialize with other KFP! Appearing in a concert seems like a very different experience than day-to-day streaming. How does preparing and appearing at an event like that compare with streaming? It may seem like we don’t do much besides streaming but there is definitely always a lot of work behind the scenes, especially when there’s a concert of ours coming up. For me, hololive is a place where I can have a chill and fun streaming job, but also live out my dreams of being on stage every once in a while. It’s 2 very different experiences but that’s what’s so exciting and refreshing! It never gets dull. Were there any performances from real-life pop stars that influenced your performance? After my first 2 singles I have been trying to go for a more Kpop-like image with my songs and choreographies, so I would say Kpop artists in general have had influence on that for sure! But even within Kpop there are different vibes, so I have also been trying to do something different each time. Like Chimera was way more cool and powerful compared to Pineapple which is more the cutesy, energetic type of KPOP! What’s the one moment from performing live concerts that will stick with you? First of all, New York was a great place to visit, and I am glad that these concerts give me opportunities to travel around the world! I cherished every second of us hanging out before and after the concerts as much as I could. Also, since this is our 2nd concert for hololive English, and I have been part of this branch since the beginning, it felt very emotional to see how much bigger it has become already. So many new members making their debut on the stage, new group songs and new fun combinations of members. I’m so proud! I had a lot of time to bond with the members too on this trip. If I had to choose one moment from the Breaking Dimensions concert, it would probably be everyone singing along to my solo performance of my original song Pineapple. I chose it because it hadn’t been performed on stage before and I had hopes that it would be easy to sing along to, even for people who haven’t heard it before much, and I think it worked out well! Pineapple is such a fun summer song with an addicting chorus and a cute, bouncy choreography, so I wanted to give it some more love and appreciation on this occasion! Also, right before the Breaking Dimensions concert, we had our first World Tour concert in New York too, and one of the mixed unit songs we performed, was my original song DO U. I released this already a while ago and it was my first 3D MV, kind of cementing my new music direction as strong as it could. I think it became quite the memorable, loved song in hololive and I am extremely proud and grateful for that. Now, this time, people’s reaction to it being a mixed unit song with not just me, but Baelz, Moona and Kobo was priceless. Everyone got so hyped up about it, and even weeks after I still get fans complaining about how we can’t just let this be a one time thing with no recorded evidence of it, haha. If you don’t want to miss out on such exclusive, super special performances, please consider coming by to one of our concerts some time! Culture Gaming Q&A YouTubeWhat time is ‘Survivor’ on tonight? Stream season 47 episode 11 free

how many gems in crash 3 Everquote stock ($EVER) was in the spotlight on Friday after the company’s ‘Strong Buy’ rating from Raymond James, lifting retail sentiment. The brokerage upgraded EverQuote from ‘Outperform’ to ‘Strong Buy’ with a price target of $35 as part of the firm’s 2025 outlook note for the insurance company, TheFly reported. While the company has produced "solid" results this year, the firm believes the stock's recent performance is impacted by the pending FCC rule change around data collection and outbound phone calls to consumers. The analyst warned “one-time reset could depress revenue growth and elevate costs for about 30% of the company's business in the near term," said the report. However, demand for the company's services is projected to grow stronger in 2025 and 2026 as insurance companies rapidly increase their advertising budgets. Retail sentiment on the stock was ‘extremely bullish’ compared to ‘extremely bearish’ a week ago. Message volumes were ‘extremely high’ compared to ‘high.’ EverQuote operates as an online insurance marketplace connecting consumers with insurance providers. Cambridge, Mass.-based company was founded by Seth N. Birnbaum, David B. Blundin, and Tomas Revesz in 2008. It has beaten Wall Street expectations on earnings per share and revenue in the past four quarters, according to Stocktwits data. EverQuote stock is up 63% year-to-date. For updates and corrections, email newsroom[at]stocktwits[dot]com.

NoneAfter rough start under coach Mike Macdonald, the Seahawks' defense has become a strengthFormula 1 expands grid to add General Motors' Cadillac brand and new American team for 2026 season

The Apple Watch is one of those devices that no one really needs, but once you get one, it's hard to imagine going without it. Think of it as an extension of your iPhone — you can check notifications and perform basic Siri tasks as long as your iPhone is in Bluetooth range, even if it's in the other room. It tracks your sleep, gathers detailed metrics about your workouts, and has a whole bunch of other useful hidden features like unlocking your Mac. As long as you know all the caveats before buying an Apple Watch , it's full steam ahead to your local Apple Store to grab the latest Apple Watch Series 10 . So the next question is: Which apps should you get? After spending hundreds of dollars on a watch, you're probably not in the mood to spend even more for apps. After all, this is Apple we're talking about, where iPhone users habitually pay seven times that of their Android counterparts. Fortunately, the Apple Watch App Store has a bunch of freebies that are just as good as paid alternatives. Check out these 11 free Apple Watch apps to make the most of your device. Keeping up-to-date with your flight before you get to the airport involves either using your airline's probably-terrible app or a sketchy free flight tracking website. Flighty will make you never touch those things again. It's a one-stop shop to track everything concerning an upcoming flight: check-in times, boarding times, delays, gate changes — you name it. The app is reliable, easy to use, and the free version offers impressive functionality. Best of all, it has a great Apple Watch version. When your hands are full with your passport and boarding pass, hand carry, and suitcase, a quick flick of the wrist lets you check if your boarding is still on time — or whatever else. I've been using it for the past couple of flights, and it's become one of my favorite Apple-only apps . As it gets closer to boarding time, Flighty appears as a live activity showing your flight number, seat, gate, and boarding/departure time. During your flight, it provides a countdown to arrival — great if it's a smaller plane without in-flight entertainment screens. Aside from this, Flighty sends you notifications for important things like gate changes. The notifications arrive just as fast as the official ones from the airline and, based on personal experience, are reliable and accurate. The free version of Flighty has no ads, supports unlimited flights, provides live data, and lets you link your flight with travel companions. The pro version ($3.99 a month or $249 for life) gives access to a treasure trove of extra information: predicted departure time, forecast on arrival, and watch complications. This app is so good it's worth it even if you only fly once a year. For years, the statistic circulated that 75% of Americans suffer from chronic dehydration. Fortunately, that turned out to be false, but it is true that many people don't drink enough water. If you find yourself only drinking once you have a headache, then you might want to try out Waterllama . It's a simple app: It takes into account factors like your age, gender, weight, and activity level, then determines how much water you need to drink and when. You get a notification whenever it's time to "top up," and it takes into account the "hydration factor" of anything that isn't strictly water, like juice and soda. The whole point is to gamify drinking water, complete with cutesy cartoon animals and streak trackers like you might find in Duolingo. For most people, the reminder part is all you need, and everything else is overkill. For those who want more, the pro version adds more characters, challenges, beverage types, and customization. So what's the benefit of an Apple Watch version compared to the existing iPhone and iPad versions? Probably that those water reminders go with you anywhere your phone does not. It might be preferable to get them as a wrist tap if you'd rather not interrupt your workflow by checking your phone. Tip calculator apps are a dime a dozen, but they still suffer from the same problem: They're not very discreet. You risk your server seeing you whip out your phone and decide their work was only worth about 15%. Tipsy lets you crunch the numbers from your wrist. Put in the total for your night on the town and then spin the crown to see different percentages. Thanks to its smart rounding, you'll never have to dig for change. Best of all, it can split the bill — and the tip — between multiple people. Tipsy Pro costs $2.99, but it is a bit hard to justify even that small amount when the Apple Calculator on Apple Watch can also calculate tips. Just plug in the full amount of the bill and hit the tip button. Use the crown to control the percentage of the tip and add people to split the bill. The only major advantage Tipsy has here is extra theme customizations. Still, we recommend Tipsy because it lays out the information in a clearer and more digestible format, and the app launches straight into a tip calculator. If you're concerned about data collection, worry not, as the app collects none. In any case, there's nothing to lose downloading it and keeping it on hand (pun intended) for the next time you eat out. While the Apple Watch calculator does have a built-in tip calculator, it doesn't yet have a currency converter. That's only on the iPhone calculator for the time being. Elk is a great choice for taking a quick glance at currency rates without touching your phone. For starters, it uses location data to determine which currency you want to convert from. Once you arrive at your vacation destination, there'll be no need to scroll through a massive list of currencies to make sure you selected the right kind of pesos. Aside from that, it includes an Apple Watch-optimized control scheme. Use the crown to change the amount, and swipe left (or right) to increase (or decrease) the values by an order of ten. It tells you when the currency exchange rate was last updated so you know you're getting accurate numbers. Thankfully, the free version only limits how many currencies you can look at at a time. The Pro version costs $9.99 and gives you access to all currencies — pretty reasonable compared to the pricing structures of other apps of this kind. So if you find yourself constantly doing wrist conversions in multiple currencies, maybe throw the developers a couple of dollars. Elk really shines when you pair its watchOS version with the iOS version. On iPhone, you can see charts showing the currency change for increasing sums of money, plus a lock screen widget to see current rates at a glance. Constellation tracking apps have been around for almost as long as gyroscopes in smartphones. Night Sky brings it to your wrist. The Apple Watch version works the same as the others, using the gyroscope to point you towards celestial bodies. Calibration should be instant and automatic, requiring no setup. Just open the app and you're good to go. The cool part is that it will identify and highlight specific constellations, adding an illustration to them for better reference. It'll give you a narrated sky tour and dim the screen to red to avoid ruining visibility if you'd rather not interrupt a star party. Space travel mode with the crown lets you go back and forth in time to see celestial bodies as they move through the night sky over time. So who is this app for, specifically? Aside from the casual stargazer, this could be helpful to someone trying to orient their telescope. It frees up both hands so you're not juggling your iPhone in one hand and the telescope in another. When your Apple Watch is face up, it automatically changes to a compass mode so you at least know the general direction you should be looking. Paying $5.99 a month or $39.99 a year for Night Sky+ removes ads. It also gives you access to every star in the database, lets you see satellites, and helps find the Aurora Borealis. Download Night Sky now so it's ready to go the next time you get to enjoy a starry sky. The Apple Weather app is fine for most people, but it's not without its faults. A common complaint for some people is the seeming lack of accuracy. It might tell you that it's going to rain, but not precisely when and how much; basically, it's not the best way to determine whether or not you should grab a jacket on your way out. CARROT attempts to be the last weather app you'll ever need, and the reviews seem to agree that it pulls it off. It prides itself on having the most accurate weather data possible and making that data actually useful with its carefully designed UI. The biggest selling point, though, is how the CARROT bot automatically describes the weather. You can program it to be completely drab and professional, or you can turn the dial to max and have it curse up a storm (almost literally) when describing a major incoming weather event. So the fun isn't just getting the weather, it's the entertaining delivery that makes another day of overcast weather just a bit more bearable. CARROT is free, but most of its features are locked behind its Premium Club membership for $4.99 a month or $19.99 a year. You'll have to pay if you want weather notifications, maps, watch complications, and the ability to change which data sources it's using. One reason you might be reticent to use a third-party weather app is that your personal data — particularly your location — might be shared or sold. As a little cherry on top, CARROT stakes its reputation on the fact that it does neither. Reddit is the social media platform for people who prefer long blocks of text and the ability to downvote anything they don't like. It can be a wild place, full of hidden features and tech support, but unfortunately, Reddit doesn't make a version for Apple Watch — though, to be fair, most major app developers don't make watch versions either. Enter: Nano for Reddit . Nano won't give you the full Reddit experience, but it does let you do everything that matters. Browse Reddit as you normally might, using the force touch to control sort settings, upvote and downvote, and even post comments. As one reviewer noted, it's 95% of the Reddit experience on the smallest screen possible. Full disclosure: The app hasn't gotten any updates since 2022, which in most cases would suggest it's been abandoned by developers and no longer in working order. Reddit changed the price of its API back in 2023 and killed off a wide swath of third-party apps in the process — which, in theory, should mean that Nano no longer works. According to regular users, though, it's still fully operational. If you use Reddit, then download it so you've got something to cure your boredom in a pinch; user u/peterinjapan humorously says it's an excellent way to browse Reddit while in a Japanese hot spring where phone use isn't socially acceptable. Not long ago, not a soul was willing to touch Apple Maps, not even with a 32-and-a-half-foot pole. Its directions were atrocious, its UI glitchy, and it sometimes took you to an entirely different destination — sometimes even miles and miles away from where you were trying to go. That has changed, with the new Apple Maps being far more reliable for everything from a long-haul road trip to a daily commute. Especially with how well it's baked into Apple apps, such as iMessage. Still, Google Maps continues to be the default for most people in terms of accuracy, up-to-date information, and usability. If you're not yet sold on Apple Maps, then Google Maps for Apple Watch is still a bang-up choice. You're getting the same excellent experience as you would get on an iPhone packed into a much smaller format. So even if your phone is in your pocket, you can get verbal turn-by-turn directions, estimated ETAs, and more. For commuters who are worried about pickpocketing on public transit, it makes for a great way to know when to get off the subway and change lines without taking your phone out of your bag. Best of all, it syncs flawlessly with your iPhone so you can see directions on both screens as needed. Back-and-forth translation apps have been around for a while now. There are even earbuds that can translate languages in real time . Apple Watch is a bit behind in this regard, since Google Translate has yet to get a watchOS edition, and Apple's in-house Translate app has, for years, maintained pretty low ratings on all devices. For reference, it's sitting at 2.3 stars at the time of writing. Until Google Translate comes to Apple Watch or Apple gets its translation apps together, iTranslate Converse could be a great choice for bridging the gap between languages. The design is so simple there's practically no need for any explanation. You hold down the button, speak, then release to get a translation. iTranslate boasts 38 languages, with the ability to automatically detect them — even in noisy environments. If you forgot what was said during an interlingual conversation, you can peruse the transcripts later. Just make sure to check the list of supported languages, since some only support text translation. There are only two downsides that we can see: One, iTranslate requires an internet connection to work for the free version, so you'll be stuck pantomiming for help if your foreign SIM card fails you way out in the boondocks. Two, most of the functionality of text translation is locked behind the Pro paywall. Regardless, it seems to be the best translation app available on the Apple Watch at the time of writing. Sleep tracking on the Apple Watch is one of the top reasons to buy one in the first place. It wakes you up in the morning with a gentle wrist vibration alarm, tells you exactly how long you slept and how often you woke up, and makes it easy to change your sleep schedule as needed. For most, that's enough, but if you want to go a step further, then you might want to check out SleepWatch . The app doesn't just aim to track your sleeping habits, it tries to figure out how to make your sleep better based on that information. It tracks things that Apple sleep cannot, like snoring and coughing, various nighttime disruptions that wake you, or heart rate dips. It helps you find a bedtime and wake-up time better suited to your circadian rhythm. Once it's gathered enough data, it has a "scientifically-informed," personalized AI coach that figures out how you can improve your shuteye. User reviews put it at 4.7 stars, so clearly it's doing something right. The premium version naturally includes more features. One is the "SleepWatch Score," which compares your sleep quality to the rest of the world. Premium costs $4.99 a month or $39.99 a year. All in all, the free version has quite a few features compared to other apps on this list. If you use a Kindle or Nook e-reader , then looking up a word in the dictionary is only a tap of the screen away. But if the whole e-reader thing isn't your style, then you're forced to either remember to look up a particular word later or interrupt your reading to check your smartphone. Neither option is ideal, especially if you're easily distracted and looking to keep that reading time sacrosanct. LookUp might be a possible solution. It's an Apple Watch dictionary that lets you quickly check the definition of something and get straight back to reading, studying, or whatever you intend to use it for. The app sources words from the Oxford English dictionary complete with example sentences and synonyms. As an extra little bonus, it can translate words into 20 additional languages. LookUp adds any words you look up to a personal vocabulary list, too. Later, once you're done reading, you can test yourself on the words and be 100% sure they're committed to memory. This makes the app great whether you're a student who needs to know those words for your exams or just an avid reader who'd never pass up the chance to expand your vocab. To get the full functionality besides the basic lookup and vocabulary builder, you'll need to pay $2.99 a month or $29.99 a year. There's even a $59.99 lifetime subscription, if you really like it. The app is available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac so you can keep that list of words with you wherever you go.

INDIANAPOLIS — Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for two scores and David Montgomery added a third touchdown run Sunday, leading the Detroit Lions to a 24-6 victory at the Indianapolis Colts. Gibbs finished with 21 carries for 90 yards as the Lions (10-1) extended their league-high winning streak to nine straight. Detroit has its been 11-game record since the franchise’s inaugural season in 1934. Jared Goff continued his sensational season, too, completing 26 of 36 throws for 269 yards. The Colts (5-7) lost their second straight home game and for the fourth time in their past five games. Anthony Richardson was 11 of 28 with 172 yards while rushing 10 times for 61 yards. While Indy managed to hold the NFL’s highest-scoring offense largely in check Sunday, it was doomed by its inability to finish drives with touchdowns. That problem happened right from the start when Richardson took the Colts inside the Lions 5-yard line on the game’s first series before settling for a short field goal. Detroit answered on its second series, getting a 1-yard TD run from Gibbs to take a 7-3 lead early in the second quarter. Then, after Indy settled for another short field goal, Montgomery spun his way across the goal line for a 6-yard scoring run and a 14-6 lead. The Lions extended the margin with Gibbs’ 5-yard TD run late in the third quarter and sealed it with a 56-yard field goal midway through the fourth. Detroit improved to 6-0 on the road as Amon-Ra St. Brown caught six passes for 62 yards. Michael Pittman Jr. had six catches for 96 yards for the Colts despite leaving briefly in the first half with a injured shoulder. Milestones Gibbs’ first score extended Detroit’s league record to 25 consecutive games with a TD run, including the playoffs. He’s also the third Lions player with 1,000 scrimmage yards and 10 TDs in each of his first two pro seasons with Detroit, joining Billy Sims and Barry Sanders. Gibbs and Montgomery have each scored at least one TD in the same game nine times. Injuries Lions: Things got ugly during a third-quarter flurry. Receiver-punt returner Kalif Raymond (foot), left tackle Taylor Decker (right leg) and Montgomery (shoulder) all left in quick succession. Raymond and Montgomery did not return. Decker did. CB Carlton Davis II left early in the fourth with what appeared to be a left knee injury. Colts: Indy deactivated left tackle Bernhard Raimann (knee), forcing the Colts to again use three rookie linemen. Receivers Ashton Dulin (ankle) and Josh Downs (shoulder) both left in the second half. Downs returned, Dulin did not. Up next Lions: Host the Bears in its traditional Thanksgiving Day game. Colts: Visit New England next Sunday.THRISSUR: The Thrissur West police issued a lookout notice for popular YouTuber Muhammad Shaheen Shah who goes by the sobriquet ‘Manavalan’ on social media. The case is registered for attempted murder as the complaint states that Shaheen tried to ram his car into college students who were riding motorcycles. Despite the students trying to veer off the road, Shaheen tailed them and tried to hit them with his car. The incident happened on Kerala Varma road in April. It is believed that the whole incident started from a squabble inside Kerala Varma College. Shaheen brought a 10-member gang to the college to assault other students. Immediately after the incident, Shaheen went into hiding now forcing police to issue a lookout notice.None

Verstappen captures 4th F1 championship after Mercedes sweep of Las Vegas Grand Prix LAS VEGAS (AP) — Max Verstappen cruised to a fourth consecutive Formula 1 championship Saturday night by finishing fifth in the Las Vegas Grand Prix. Verstappen needed only to finish ahead of Lando Norris of McLaren to give Red Bull a fourth straight driver championship. The Dutchman started fifth but was already up to second by the 10th lap around the street circuit that includes the famed Las Vegas Strip. Norris, who had to score at least three points more than Verstappen to extend the championship fight, finished sixth. The race was won by George Russell who was followed by Lewis Hamilton in the first 1-2 sweep for the Mercedes drivers since 2022. Dartmouth sorority, two members of fraternity face charges after student who attended party drowned HANOVER, N.H. (AP) — A sorority at Dartmouth College and two members of a fraternity faces charges related to the death of a student who drowned after attending an off-campus party. The Hanover, New Hampshire police department, where Dartmouth is located, said Friday that Alpha Phi was charged with one count of facilitating an underage alcohol house. Two members of the Beta Alpha Omega face a charge of providing alcohol to a person under 21. Won Jang, 20, of Middletown, Delaware, had attended an off-campus party in July hosted by Alpha Phi sorority. Police said the alcohol was provided by Beta Alpha Omega. Tens of thousands of Spaniards protest housing crunch and high rents in Barcelona BARCELONA, Spain (AP) — Tens of thousands of Spaniards are marching in downtown Barcelona to protest the skyrocketing cost of renting an apartment in the popular tourist destination. Protesters cut off traffic on main avenues in the city center, holding up homemade signs in Spanish reading “Fewer apartments for investing and more homes for living." The lack of affordable housing has become one of the leading concerns for the southern European Union country, mirroring the housing crunch across many parts of the world, including the United States. The average rent for Spain has doubled in the last decade. In cities like Barcelona, rental prices have also been driven up by short-term renters including tourists. Jason Kelce's wife announces she is pregnant with the couple's fourth child Former Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce's wife is announcing she's pregnant with the couple's fourth child. Kylie Kelce posted a photo on Instagram on Friday of the couple's three young daughters reacting to the news. The oldest daughter, Wyatt, appears to be cupping her head in shock. The middle daughter, Ellioette, is smiling. The youngest, Bennett, is in tears. A caption attached to the photo reads: “I feel like we captured a very accurate representation of how each of the girls feel about getting another sister. At least Ellie, mom and dad are on the same page!” Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in UAE is missing. Israeli officials fear he may have been kidnapped DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Israeli-Moldovan rabbi living in the United Arab Emirates has gone missing, with Israeli authorities raising the suspicion he may have been kidnapped as tensions remain high with Iran. The Israeli prime minister’s office said that Zvi Kogan has been missing since noon Thursday. It said that against the backdrop of information that this was a terrorist incident, an extensive investigation has been opened in the country. Emirati officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment Saturday. State-run media in the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula and home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, did not immediately report the incident. Alyssa Nakken, first full-time female coach in MLB history, leaving Giants to join Guardians CLEVELAND (AP) — Alyssa Nakken, the first woman to coach in an MLB game, is leaving the San Francisco Giants to join the Cleveland Guardians. Nakken made history in 2022 when she took over as first-base coach following an ejection. A former college softball star at Sacramento State, Nakken joined the Giants in 2014 and was promoted to a spot on manager Gabe Kapler’s staff in 2020, becoming the majors’ first full-time female coach. Nakken has been hired as an assistant director within player development for the Guardians, who won the AL Central last season under first-year manager Stephen Vogt. Nakken, 34, will work with former Giants coaches Craig Albernaz and Kai Correa. Officer kills pet dog mistaken for a coyote in Massachusetts town. The owner says it was unnecessary An animal control officer shot and killed a pet dog in a Massachusetts town after mistaking it for a coyote in an incident local police are describing as a sad mix-up. Police in Northbridge, Massachusetts, say the shooting happened on Tuesday after police received a call of a report of a coyote in a residential backyard. Police say the animal control officer went into the woods to look for the coyote and found what they thought was the animal in a threatening position and shot it. The incident happened as communities around Massachusetts and the country have dealt with an uptick in interactions between coyotes and people. Kendrick Lamar surprises with new album 'GNX' LOS ANGELES (AP) — Kendrick Lamar gave music listeners an early holiday present with a new album. The Grammy winner released his sixth studio album “GNX” on Friday. The 12-track project is the rapper’s first release since 2022’s “Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers.” Lamar’s new album comes just months after his rap battle with Drake. The rap megastar will headline February's Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in New Orleans. The 37-year-old has experienced massive success since his debut album “good kid, m.A.A.d city” in 2012. Since then, he’s accumulated 17 Grammy wins and became the first non-classical, non-jazz musician to win a Pulitzer Prize. NBA memo to players urges increased vigilance regarding home security following break-ins MIAMI (AP) — The NBA is urging its players to take additional precautions to secure their homes following reports of recent high-profile burglaries of dwellings owned by Milwaukee Bucks forward Bobby Portis and Kansas City Chiefs teammates Patrick Mahomes and Travis Kelce. In a memo sent to team officials, a copy of which was obtained by The Associated Press, the NBA revealed that the FBI has connected some burglaries to “transnational South American Theft Groups” that are “reportedly well-organized, sophisticated rings that incorporate advanced techniques and technologies, including pre-surveillance, drones, and signal jamming devices.” Michael B. Jordan uses timeout at women's college basketball game to sign smoldering photo LOS ANGELES (AP) — Snoop Dogg strolled in wearing a jacket with JuJu Watkins’ name and number on the front and back. Michael B. Jordan thrilled a USC female fan with an impromptu autograph during a timeout. The stars came out to the showdown between third-ranked Southern California and No. 6 Notre Dame. The Fighting Irish won 74-61 to remain undefeated in the nationally televised game. The woman held up a smoldering magazine photo of the actor and he indicated he'd sign it. With the arena DJ egging her on, she climbed out of the stands and met Jordan at his seat. He leaned in to ask her name, signed and they shared an embrace.Importance of reporting crimes highlighted LAHORE : DIG (Operations) Muhammad Faisal Kamran Friday said reporting crimes is crucial to combat them. Conducting an open court session at Jamia Masjid Khizra, Samanabad, the DIG said the primary aim of interacting with citizens is to remove their fears and ensuring them that the police are available to address their concerns at their doorstep. SP Iqbal Town Bilal Ahmed, SDPO Muslim Town, and other officers attended the open court. The DIG listened to the citizens’ grievances and issued directives for their solution on the spot. He reiterated that Lahore Police is addressing social and communal issues of citizens at their doorsteps. He encouraged citizens to voice their concerns fearlessly during these sessions, saying his office is open to address grievances of victims. 1.32kg hashish recovered from drug peddler New Anarkali police Friday arrested a drug peddler. The police detained accused Shafiq alias Bata and recovered 1.32 kg hashish from his possession. Meanwhile, Quaid-i-Azam Industrial Estate police detained suspect identified as Shaharyar for making a false robbery call. The Dolphin Squad rounded up 168 criminals, including 59 individuals with prior criminal records, 47 habitual offenders, and 21 court absconders during the past 72 hours. The Dolphin Squad also detained accused Malik Shah in Shahdara area on charges of opening fire at Rizwan, Abbas, Ali, and Imran over a petty issue. Ghaziabad police arrested drug peddler Usman and recovered 12kg opium from him. Multan Park police rounded up suspects Shahbaz and Zaman and recovered 31 kg hashish from them. 13 die on road in 24 hours Around 13 people died and 1,518 others injured in 1,453 road accidents in Punjab during the last 24 hours. Around 622 people with serious injuries were shifted to different hospitals, while 896 with minor injuries were treated at the incident site by the Rescue medical teams. Missing boy reunited with family Liaqatabad police Friday reunited a 14-year-old boy with his family. David went missing from the old vegetable market four days back and his father registered a kidnapping case with Kot Lakhpat police. Reportedly, David left his home without informing anybody when his father scolded him over an issue.Titans QB Mason Rudolph gets another chance at starting, this time against the Jags

EverQuote Stock In Focus After Analyst Upgrade: Retail Sentiment JumpsA dip or deeper decline? Guardiola seeks response to Manchester City slump

Republicans rally around Hegseth, Trump's Pentagon pick, as Gaetz withdraws for attorney generalWhat We're Reading to Start the New Year

ISoftStone has more than doubled its PC shipment in Q3 2024 I had never heard of the company till its name appeared in Canalys's latest report ISoftStone provides Digital Innovation Service and is a pure B2B player China’s PC market is set for 6% growth in 2025, according to recent analysis from Canalys, with strong public sector spending a key factor. In a new report , the analyst firm said it expects the country's PC market recovery to be “sustained” over the next 12 months, with desktops and notebooks in particular growing by 9% and 4% respectively. But nestled amongst the details of Canalys’ recent research, insights on a little-known regional vendor, ISoftStone, stood out. Who is ISoftStone? Admittedly, prior to the publication of Canalys’ report I’d never heard of ISoftStone, but the PC vendor secured second place in the shipment rankings in Q3 2024, which speaks volumes given the fierce competition it faces from major industry players. ISoftStone provides technology products and services spanning both the enterprise and consumer domains. Canalys’ report noted the company recorded strong performance in both the public sector and education market during Q3 2024, and its numbers in gaming PCs also raised eyebrows. Over the last two fiscal years, the company has experienced rapid growth, Canalys found. In Q3 2023, for example, the firm boasted just a 4% share of the regional PC market, shipping around half a million desktop and notebook units. Fast forward to Q3 2024, and the numbers are impressive, with ISoftStone holding a 10% market share and shipping more than 1.1 million units - that’s a 123% growth rate, according to Canalys. Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! All told, this meteoric rise places it on par with Huawei in terms of market share and gave the company a lead on both HP and ASUS . It’s still some way behind Lenovo, but the growth rates recorded this year suggest the firm shows no signs of slowing down. ISoftStone: What’s behind the meteoric rise? A key factor in this impressive growth is the state of flux witnessed across the regional PC market, according to Canalys. Since 2023, the space has experienced “significant shifts” - and the “growing presence” of domestic vendors has been a key talking point. The government’s promotion of “Xinchuang”, or indigenous innovation, has “created a favorable environment for domestic vendors to thrive,” Canalys said. Strong growth in the gaming PC segments could also be a leading factor here, with this particular area recording 24% growth in Q3 2024. “Higher-value PCs with AI or gaming capabilities have been resilient despite broader market downturns, driven by heightened expectations for strong user experiences,” said Emma Xu, Analyst at Canalys. What else has ISoftStone been up to? On the international front, ISoftStone has been active of late, with reports in November 2024 highlighting the firm’s involvement in the Kingdee Data Center in Singapore. China's Kingdee International Software Group unveiled the launch of a new data center and office space in Singapore, which Datacenter Dynamics reported will act as a “bridgehead and international business center”. While Kingdee will provide cloud computing services as part of its expansion, iSoftStone will be working closely with the firm to provide global customers with digital solutions and services. These are the best business laptops around today And the best Lenovo ThinkPads on offer right now PC sales are stalling as worries over costs and upgrade hassle hit hard

One of the big differences between the not-for-profit sector, which my company Our Community works with, and the frankly commercial sector is that ?" and for-profits ask "What can we get away with?". or signup to continue reading That's not an anti-capitalist rant. Businesses work in the real world, and NFPs need to learn from them. Laws aren't granite walls that channel us in a set direction. They're more like wetlands. You can take the made road through, and most people do, but if you have a reason to go another route you can generally feel your way through the bogs without actually hitting the unmapped patches of quicksand. All laws are unavoidably ambiguous, and lawyers don't give definitive answers. How could they? Every single court case since the ancient Mesopotamians thought up the idea of courts in the first place has involved two people who both believed, on consideration of the relevant texts, that they were in the right. In the light of this, it's clear that a perfect dispute resolution system, managed by angels, might achieve a client satisfaction rate as high as 50 per cent. Under a totally corrupt system run by ignorant morons, that rate might sink as low as 50 per cent. I'd say Australia fell somewhere in the middle. Like so much else in life, lawyers are primarily a means of assessing risk. Their job is to find out what degree of risk you're happy with and direct you along a vector that points towards your eventual goals. Along the way, your course is going to be pushed or pulled one way or another by the force fields that apply to all of us all the time; the law, yes, but also cost, degree of difficulty, time, paperwork, and, above all, other people. At Our Community we get a stream of inquiries from clubs and societies asking variations on the same question: "Our constitution says such-and-such, but that's not going to work. What do we do?" To which we generally bounce back another question: "Who cares?" That's not a flippant dismissal (well, not always). It's a vital constitutional principle, at all levels. If nobody has an interest in taking you down, you can fairly safely choose your own course. If the rules have painted you into a corner, people will generally look the other way even though you're tracking paint through the corridor (and who does paint their floors, anyway? Haven't you ever heard of carpeting?). If your problem involves significant amounts of money, of course, people are likely to care, but most volunteer NFPs can't hope in their wildest dreams to run into those hazards. Most of the time, they just want to be good citizens. And it's here that they run into the government information fogbank. If you go to any government website or helpline with a difficult question, you'll find that the exchange goes something like this. "Your site says 'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, And the mome raths outgrabe.' Does that apply to my group?" "Your call is important to us. If, in your case, you are brillig, and the slithy toves did gyre and gimble in the wabe: All mimsy were the borogoves, and the mome raths outgrabe, then yes. Otherwise, no." Jargon, legalese, poor drafting - there is a whole range of things that can make the written rules unreadable. Still, no government advice source can either add or subtract a jot or tittle from the words of the act, and so it can't say what the words mean, and so the answers don't touch on anything the questioner wants to know. That's where the Our Community advice line comes in. We're generally prepared to give a three-dimensional answer, lifting off the page into the real world. Most of law, we tell people with questions, is a bluff. If you park illegally, or evade your tram fare, or put soft plastics into your recycling bin, you'll very probably get away with it, and those offences actually have enforcement officers who want to justify their salaries by feeling the collars of as many malefactors as possible. NFPs don't have even that. The regulators are first and foremost concerned with having their forms filled out correctly, and they will intervene only if the NFP concerned is overturned in the middle lane of the freeway leaking petrol while setting off fireworks. Which is, to a large extent, a good thing. Nearly all NFPs are trying to do the right thing nearly all the time, and forcing them into rigid compliance would be simply a waste of everybody's time and money, with the added possibility of political abuses. We should trust them. That involves a risk that some groups will abuse that trust, yes - a very small risk - but the alternative is grisly. NFPs should be focusing on what they want to do, which is to make Australia a better place, rather than on what's in the small print. DAILY Today's top stories curated by our news team. WEEKDAYS Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. WEEKLY The latest news, results & expert analysis. WEEKDAYS Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. WEEKLY Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. WEEKLY Love footy? We've got all the action covered. WEEKLY Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. WEEKLY Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. WEEKDAYS Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. TWICE WEEKLY Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. WEEKLY Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. TWICE WEEKLY Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. AS IT HAPPENS Be the first to know when news breaks. DAILY Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! DAILY Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Advertisement AdvertisementTokyo: Japan's Nikkei index fell at the end of trading today, amid weak trading activity during the holiday season, and after the release of the minutes of the central bank's October meeting, which showed that policymakers preferred to continue raising interest rates. The Tokyo Stock Exchange reported that the 225-issue Nikkei index ended today's session down 0.32 percent, or 124.49 points, to reach the index 39,036.85 points, while the broader Topix index closed marginally higher by 0.02 percent, or 0.52 points, to close at 2,727.26 points. Honda stock was the best performer within the Nikkei, rising 12.22 percent, or 156 points, to 1,432.5 yen after the automaker yesterday revealed a plan to buy back shares worth 1.1 trillion yen (USD 7 billion), in addition to officially starting merger talks with Nissan. In terms of exchange rate, the US currency stabilized against its Japanese counterpart at 157.10 yen in morning trading.

is fortune 3 rare Jimmy Carter: Many evolutions for a centenarian ‘citizen of the world’The 444-day Iran hostage crisis that undid Jimmy Carter's presidency

The Davis Cup champions for 2024 will be officially crowned on Sunday as Italy take on the Netherlands in this year’s final. It has been a memorable finals week in Malaga so far, with the Dutch team proving their composure to topple hosts Spain in the opener and end the illustrious career of Rafael Nadal in the process. Botic van de Zandschulp has been an integral figure for Paul Haarhuis’ side, beating Nadal and then teaming up with the retiring Wesley Koolhof to defeat Carlos Alcaraz and Marcel Granollers to secure progress into the last four. He then toppled Daniel Altmaier in a third-set decider in the opening singles rubber of the semi-final showdown with Germany, before Tallon Griekspoor fought back to thwart Jan-Lennard Struff and book the Netherlands’ first-ever Davis Cup final berth. They will need to be at their very best to topple Italy, with the defending champions looking to retain their title after beating Australia last year and watching their compatriots lift the Billie Jean King Cup in the same city this week. Filippo Volandri’s team needed Matteo Berrettini and reigning men’s world No1 Jannik Sinner to team up and see off Argentina in the quarter-finals after Sinner had kept the tie alive following defeat for Lorenzo Musetti, with that duo seeing off Thanasi Kokkinakis and Alex De Minaur respectively to brush aside Australia in Saturday’s last-four tie without the need for a tense doubles decider. The 2024 Davis Cup final takes place on Sunday, November 24 at the Palacio de Deportes Jose Maria Martin Carpena in Malaga, Spain. The final begins at 4pm CET, which is 3pm GMT in the UK. The respective captains have up until an hour before play begins to name their teams for the tie, though Italy have so far played Sinner in their second singles match with Berrettini likely to open again in place of Musetti after his success against Germany. Haarhuis must therefore decide whether to play Van de Zandschulp first once more, or rather to match him up against Sinner and throw out Griekspoor first. The Netherlands would surely likely pair Van de Zandschulp and Koolhof together again if the final goes down to a doubles decider, likewise Italy with Berrettini and Sinner - although they also have a talented doubles pair eager for their chance in Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori. Matteo Berrettini Jannik Sinner Lorenzo Musetti Simone Bolelli Andrea Vavassori Tallon Griekspoor Botic van de Zandschulp Wesley Koolhof Jesper de Jong TV channel: Sunday’s final is being broadcast live on the Tennis Channel, which costs £2.49 a month in the UK with a seven-day free trial available. Live stream: Live coverage is also being shown online for free via the BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website. The shortened best-of-three format seen in the Davis Cup finals continues in Sunday’s showpiece. The two singles matches are played first, with a doubles rubber then deciding the tie if necessary. All matches - both singles and doubles - are best-of-three sets. Italy to win: 1/8 Netherlands to win: 5/1 Odda via bet365 (subject to change).The Madhya Pradesh High Court has provided a temporary relief to Chairperson Rashmi Saluja amid a fight for the control of Religare Enterprises Ltd. In an order on Dec. 18, the court halted an annual general meeting of Religare that was scheduled to take place on Dec. 31. A bench of Chief Justice Suresh Kumar Kait and Justice Vijay Kumar also stayed the Reserve Bank of India's approval of the Burman family's open offer, which would allow them to acquire a 26% stake in the company. The order comes as a relief to Saluja as the decision on her reappointment has been delayed due to the court's intervention. The Burman family, which is the largest shareholder of the company, has been seeking to oust Saluja, raising questions about the future leadership and control of Religare. The high court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by advocate Vijayant Mishra for protecting the interests of minority shareholders of Religare. Mishra argued that the proposed acquisition by the Burman family could lead to control being concentrated in the hands of a few, potentially undermining the interests of over 73,000 minority shareholders. Religare Enterprises confirmed the court’s stay in a filing to the BSE and the National Stock Exchange on Thursday, saying that the notice for the AGM would remain on hold until further orders. The Burman family, through its entities, placed orders to acquire up to 1.73 crore equity shares, representing 5.27% of Religare's equity, at a maximum price of Rs 235 per share. This move is part of their strategy to surpass the 25% threshold, triggering an open offer obligation as required by regulations governing non-bank financial companies. While the RBI had given approval for the increase in shareholding, it has withheld approval for the proposed appointment of four new directors at this stage.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Working-class voters helped Republicans make steady election gains this year and expanded a coalition that increasingly includes rank-and-file union members, a political shift spotlighting one of President-elect Donald Trump’s latest Cabinet picks: a GOP congresswoman, who has drawn labor support, to be his labor secretary. Oregon Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer narrowly lost her bid for a second term this month, despite strong backing from union members, a key part of the Democratic base but gravitating in the Trump era toward a Republican Party traditionally allied with business interests. “Lori’s strong support from both the Business and Labor communities will ensure that the Labor Department can unite Americans of all backgrounds behind our Agenda for unprecedented National Success - Making America Richer, Wealthier, Stronger and more Prosperous than ever before!” Trump said in a statement announcing his choice Friday night. For decades, labor unions have sided with Democrats and been greeted largely with hostility by Republicans. But with Trump's populist appeal, his working-class base saw a decent share of union rank-and-file voting for Republicans this year, even as major unions, including the AFL-CIO and the United Auto Workers , endorsed Democrat Kamala Harris in the White House race. Trump sat down with the International Brotherhood of Teamsters union leadership and members this year, and when he emerged from that meeting, he boasted that a significant chunk of union voters were backing him. Of a possible Teamsters endorsement, he said, “Stranger things have happened.” The Teamsters ultimately declined to endorse either Trump, the former president, or Harris, the vice president, though leader Sean O’Brien had a prominent speaking slot at the Republican National Convention. Kara Deniz, a Teamsters spokesperson, told the Associated Press that O’Brien met with more than a dozen House Republicans this past week to lobby on behalf of Chavez-DeRemer. “Chavez-DeRemer would be an excellent choice for labor secretary and has his backing,” Deniz said. The work of the Labor Department affects workers’ wages, health and safety, ability to unionize, and employers' rights to fire employers, among other responsibilities. On Election Day, Trump deepened his support among voters without a college degree after running just slightly ahead of Democrat Joe Biden with noncollege voters in 2020. Trump made modest gains, earning a clear majority of this group, while only about 4 in 10 supported Harris, according to AP VoteCast, a sweeping survey of more than 120,000 voters nationwide. Roughly 18% of voters in this year's election were from union households, with Harris winning a majority of the group. But Trump's performance among union members kept him competitive and helped him win key states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. Chavez-DeRemer was one of few House Republicans to endorse the “Protecting the Right to Organize” or PRO Act, which would allow more workers to conduct organizing campaigns and add penalties for companies that violate workers’ rights. The measure would weaken “right-to-work” laws that allow employees in more than half the states to avoid participating in or paying dues to unions that represent workers at their places of employment. Trump's first term saw firmly pro-business policies from his appointees across government, including those on the National Labor Relations Board. Trump, a real estate developer and businessman before winning the presidency, generally has backed policies that would make it harder for workers to unionize. During his recent campaign, Trump criticized union bosses, and at one point suggested that UAW members should not pay their dues. His first administration did expand overtime eligibility rules, but not nearly as much as Democrats wanted, and a Trump-appointed judge has since struck down the Biden administration’s more generous overtime rules. He has stacked his incoming administration with officials who worked on the Heritage Foundation’s “Project 2025” blueprint, which includes a sharp swing away from Biden’s pro-union policies. “Chavez-DeRemer’s record suggests she understands the value of policies that strengthen workers’ rights and economic security,” said Rebecca Dixon, president and CEO of National Employment Law Project, which is backed my many of the country’s major labor unions. “But the Trump administration’s agenda is fundamentally at odds with these principles, threatening to roll back workplace protections, undermine collective bargaining, and prioritize corporate profits over the needs of working people. This is where her true commitment to workers will be tested.” Other union leaders also issued praise, but also sounded a note of caution. “Educators and working families across the nation will be watching ... as she moves through the confirmation process,” the president of the National Education Association, Becky Pringle, said in a statement, “and hope to hear a pledge from her to continue to stand up for workers and students as her record suggests, not blind loyalty to the Project 2025 agenda.” AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler welcomed the choice while taking care to note Trump's history of opposing polices that support unions. "It remains to be seen what she will be permitted to do as secretary of labor in an administration with a dramatically anti-worker agenda,” Shuler said.Farmers call for 'Punjab bandh' on December 30Fly fishing holds anglers in a different perspective. So many of our memories revolve around a common activity. As the calendar year crawls toward new numbers, fly fishers should assess their angling activity from the recent past. The cold, snow-crusted days are a good time to reflect on your year and look ahead. The end of the year gives anglers time to assess the past 12 months and embrace the coming year. Plan for the fishing you will be taking in the new year. Often during the frigid months here in Colorado — and across the United States — thoughts of warm weather adventures take shape. It seems that everyone, no matter what your location, dreams of saltwater and sand during the winter. But trips don’t just take form from thoughts. They take action and premeditation to come to fruition. Make reservations and schedule air travel now as an incentive for months down the road. Rest assured: memories made during a warm weather trip you plan now will be the reflections you treasure next winter. Fly-fishing trips do not need to only revolve around destinations, but could be focused on building and broadening skills instead. Long ago, fly anglers voluntarily gave up easier paths to fishing success. Fly fishing is difficult, with a lifelong learning curve and a breadth of unfathomable description. Experts — true masters in our game — are humble and always seek out more information to learn. Whether it is in fly tying, casting or entomology, fly fishing holds massive attraction for the mental factor alone. A guided fly fishing trip can be the learning time you need to refine skills or practice new tactics. A fly fishing school, such as the School of Trout, directed by Todd Tanner, elevates a fly angler’s intelligence. Whatever the venue, plan on taking time to learn something new about fly fishing, whether through a fly shop like Vail Valley Anglers or someplace else. You deserve it. Revel in the angling opportunities you took. When I look back at the past 12 months, there are some new experiences to journal but there are a lot of new faces with which I shared time fishing. Those people layer importance and possess meaning in my fly fishing. Fly fishing with brothers, nephews and best friends builds permanence in memory that time can’t erase. Fishing also builds bonds between complete strangers and distant acquaintances. Angling provides the foundation for a common language capable of immediately changing focus and tone between strangers. Some of those strangers have become treasured friends. I often ask myself, ‘Will I remember a random Friday on the job 20 years from now? Or will the permanence burnt into my psyche from the memory of a mountain stream where cutthroat trout ate dry flies under a Colorado blue sky while fishing beside my brother linger longer?’ I think most of my readers will know the answer to my question. Give yourself permission to take time in 2025 to construct memories on the water rather than behind window blinds. Fly fishing this past year laid the foundation for providing experiences for strangers under the moniker of Giving Back Outdoors, a veteran’s association that extends opportunities for individuals and family members to experience fly fishing in Colorado. Fly fishing with the veterans and their family members placed more meaning on where we were and what we were doing than the actual catching that was recorded in photos. Think about dedicating time to such an organization. Plan ahead to volunteer and watch what comes up in your memories the next time you reflect. We need more anglers to devote time to teaching kids to fish. Kids need opportunities to learn the skills so many of us take for granted. The time you plan to invest helping kids during the coming year will make you beam with pride when you encounter the same young angler out on the river years from now. When I reflect on the past year, memories from the top of the Rockies to the endless sea-of-grass called the Everglades wash over me. People and places, old friends and family, all joined together by a simple act of fishing. Take time to reflect on your angling year and plan ahead. Fly fishing is the catalyst for our experiences past and future. See you on the river in 2025. Michael Salomone moved to the Eagle River valley in 1992. He began guiding fly-fishing professionally in 2002. His freelance writing has been published in magazines and websites including, Southwest Fly Fishing, Fly Rod & Reel, Eastern Fly Fishing, On the Fly, FlyLords, the Pointing Dog Journal, Upland Almanac, the Echo website, Vail Valley Anglers and more. He lives on the bank of the Eagle River with his wife, Lori; two daughters, Emily and Ella; and a brace of yellow Labrador retrievers.

THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) — Greece’s second largest city, Thessaloniki, is getting a brand new subway system that will showcase archaeological discoveries made during construction that held up the project for decades. The 9.6-kilometer inaugural line will officially open on Nov. 30, using driverless trains and platform screen doors. Construction began in earnest in 2003 and unearthed a treasure trove of antiquities in a vast excavation beneath the densely populated city of a million residents. “This project offers a remarkable blend of the ancient and modern, integrating archaeological heritage with metro infrastructure,” Christos Staikouras, the transport and infrastructure minister, told reporters Friday on a media tour of the subway. Tunneling followed ancient commercial routes through the center of the port city that has been continuously inhabited since ancient times. It exposed a Roman-era thoroughfare, ancient Greek burial sites, water and drainage systems, mosaics and inscriptions and tens of thousands of artifacts spanning centuries, also through Byzantine and Ottoman rule. The tunnels had to be bored at a greater depth than originally planned, adding cost and delays, to preserve the ancient discoveries. Key pieces of what was found have been put on display along the underground network of 13 stations including a section of the marble-paved Roman thoroughfare at the central Venizelou Station. “The project faced substantial delays and many challenges, including over 300,000 archaeological finds, many of which are now showcased at various stations along the main line,” Staikouras said. The Thessaloniki metro was first conceived more than a century ago and its completion has been greeted with quiet amazement by residents who for years used the metro project as a punchline for bureaucratic delays and undelivered promises. Government officials said the cost of the metro so far has reached 3 billion euros ($3.1 billion) for the completed first line of the subway system and most of a second line which is currently under construction and due to be delivered in a year. The construction consortium was made up by Greece’s Aktor, Italy’s Webuild and Japan’s Hitachi Rail.GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs left his team’s game against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday because of a concussion. Doubs’ injury came on a third-quarter play in the end zone that resulted in a pass interference penalty against San Francisco’s Renardo Green. Doubs stayed down briefly after the play, then got up slowly before heading to the sideline. He went into the injury tent before walking to the locker room. The Packers then announced Doubs was out for the rest of the game because of a concussion. He had three catches for 54 yards before leaving. Story continues below video San Francisco defensive tackle Jordan Elliott left in the first half of the game to get evaluated for a concussion and was ruled out at halftime. AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL

Andy Cohen’s biggest gripe with CNN star and New Year’s Eve partner-in-crime Anderson Cooper? Cooper’s annual giggle fit. Cohen explained to People why the anchor’s unceasing laughter adds extra chaos throughout their annual special. “Well, [it’s] that I have to be the straight guy,” Cohen said. “Literally, he’s in a puddle of giggles for the last 90 minutes of the broadcast, and I’m the one that’s hitting all the commercial breaks.” Cohen said he turns “into Mr. CNN for the last 90 minutes” while Cooper becomes “Mr. Bravo.” “It’s a very funny role reversal,” the Bravo star said. The longtime friends have hosted the CNN event together since 2017 after former co-host Kathy Griffin was booted in the wake of backlash for posing with a mask depicting the severed head of Donald Trump. Cohen and Cooper have found themselves in various antics since then— some alcoholic , some not —leading to Cooper’s own frustrations with the Bravo host. Cooper joked on Cohen’s Watch What Happens Live earlier this month that he constantly worries about “who [Cohen’s] gonna insult and what the clean up on aisle 3 is gonna be in the morning.” Billionaire businessman Charles Dolan, who founded HBO and Cablevision and whose family owns Madison Square Garden and a number of New York City sports teams, died on Saturday—he was 98. Dolan created Cablevision Systems Corporation in 1973, merging several small Long Island cable TV systems, according to the New York Times . At the time, the company served just 1,500 customers. But when he sold it for $17.7 billion in 2015, it supplied cable TV to over three million households in the New York metropolitan area, the Times reported. He also launched HBO in the early ’70s—it was at the time a pioneering cable TV channel that offered feature-length movies with no commercials. After his death, Dolan’s family will continue to be a powerful and influential force in the worlds of media and sports. His son Patrick is the owner of Newsday , the Long Island-based newspaper he and Charles bought in 2016. The family also owns MSG in New York City and the professional sports teams that play there, the NHL’s Rangers and the NBA’s Knicks. All three entities are led by Dolan’s son James. Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. Boxing Week sales are still in full swing, folks! As an avid J.Crew fan , I can honestly say that the brand’s discount-laden factory store (the brand’s online outlet) is a great way to get high-quality wardrobe staples without the big price tag. J.Crew Factory always offers discounts up to 40 percent off J.Crew, but for a limited time, you can unlock even more savings from already discounted items. Right now, J.Crew Factory is offering 70 percent off clearance items with the code SALE70 at checkout. Now’s the time to invest in evergreen staples like jeans and office-friendly blazers while they’re half off, or grab a few outwear essentials to round out your cold-weather lineup. The sale also includes tons of denim for just $50, pure cotton crewneck T-shirts for $20, and even new arrivals like NYE frocks and cashmere items. And the sale is not just for women; the gents’ and kids’ sections are equally full of additional savings. Tina Knowles sprang to her daughter Beyoncé’s defense after online trolls criticized her NFL halftime show performance on Christmas Day. Knowles clapped back at critics by reposting a message about her famous daughter on her Instagram on Friday. In the screenshot, user @iamkrisiman praised Beyoncé and wrote that “no matter how undeniably talented you are, people will always, ALWAYS, always have some negative ish to say.” Knowles cosigned the post in a lengthy caption. “It is mind-boggling to me that you would take your precious Christmas day and watch a performance of someone you hate and you don’t think has talent so that you can go talk ish about it later,” she wrote. “Obviously you are so obsessed with them, addicted to them, and secretly admire them,” she added. According to the New York Post, Knowles’ post came after some social media users called Beyoncé “overrated.” Fans and celebrities in the comments of Knowles’ response seemed to love her mama bear energy. “Period!!! Ms. T,” singer LeToya Luckett wrote. “All. Of. This!!!!!!” Oscar winner Octavia Spencer added. A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinaknowles) Elon Musk appeared to borrow a line from the 2008 film Tropic Thunder in an ongoing social media fight about H1B visas. Musk hit back against MAGA’s top players in a series of X posts, alleging that H1B visas are the reason why he, “and hundreds of other companies that made America strong,” are in the country. To a skeptical X user, Musk blasted: “Take a big step back and F--- YOURSELF in the face. I will go to war on this issue the likes of which you cannot possibly comprehend.” Although some were shocked by Musk’s sudden escalation—with former Trump strategist Steve Bannon calling him a “toddler”—others noticed that the disparaging remark was similar to a line in Tropic Thunder . Character Les Grossman, played by Tom Cruise, says in the film: “First, take a big step back, and literally, F--- YOUR OWN FACE ... I don’t know what kind of pan-pacific bulls--t power play you’re trying to pull here, but Asia, Jack, is my territory. So whatever you’re thinking, you’d better think again.” In response to Musk’s comment, the X user tweeted, “Bro was just memeing. I wouldn’t take it too seriously.” Nothing beats the classics pic.twitter.com/MRSdXifhH5 Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. If you’re looking to revamp your at-home fitness lineup ahead of 2025 and don’t have hours to commit to exercising each day, allow us to introduce you to the CAROL Bike . The science-backed and AI-powered fitness bike is engineered to give you maximum results in the shortest time possible—and by the shortest time, we mean as little as five minutes. In fact, according to the brand, the CAROL bike is “proven to deliver double the health and fitness benefits in 90 percent less time compared to regular cardio.” Free Returns | Free Shipping Not only is it a huge time-saver, but the CAROL Bike is also designed to be personalized to the rider’s individual fitness levels, goals, and preferences, making the workouts easy to follow, time-efficient, and super effective. CAROL’s AI and Reduced Exertion HIIT (REHIT) technology optimizes the workout to your ability and fitness level, so every second matters. The personalized, optimal resistance levels are automatically adjusted as you work out—at exactly the right time—making the most efficient workouts easy to follow. “ CAROL Bike is designed to maximize training efficiency, with the shortest, most effective workouts, backed by science. And new rider-inspired features that give riders more flexibility to exercise their way,” says Ulrich Dempfle, CEO & Co-Founder at CAROL. You can try the CAROL Bike for yourself risk-free for 100 days, and the brand offers free shipping (7-10 business days) in the U.S. Charles Shyer, the writer-director best known for directing the 1991 Steve Martin comedy Father of the Bride has died at 83. According to Deadline, Shyer died Friday and no cause of death was given by his family in a statement. “His loss leaves an unfillable hole in our lives, but his legacy lives on through his children and the five decades of wonderful work he’s left behind. We honor the extraordinary life he led and know there will never be another quite like him,” his family told the outlet. In addition to directing, Shyer gained notoriety for his screenwriting and nabbed an Oscar nomination in 1981 for co-writing the Goldie Hawn-led military comedy Private Benjamin alongside Harvey Miller, and fellow writer-director Nancy Meyers. Meyers and Shyer married in 1980 before calling it quits in 1999. They share two daughters. Other notable films co-written by Shyer include Jumpin’ Jack Flash , The Parent Trap , and Baby Boom , which he also directed. His most recent credit behind the camera was co-writing and directing the 2023 Netflix Holiday film Best. Christmas. Ever. A Norwegian chess champion left mid-tournament after refusing to change his outfit for judges. Magnus Carlsen, a five-time World Chess Champion, was competing in New York’s FIDE World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships on Friday when he was asked to change. According to The Telegraph , Carlsen was first fined $200 for breaking the wardrobe rule before being told he would have to leave if he didn’t change. “I said, ‘I’ll change tomorrow if that’s OK.’ I didn’t even realize it today, but they said, ‘Well you have to change now.’ At that point it became a bit of a matter of principle for me,” Carlsen told chess outlet Take Take Take in an interview. “Honestly, I am too old at this point to care too much. If this is what they want to do,” he added. As for why he wore the jeans in the first place, Carlsen said he had little time to change before the tournament as he was coming from a meeting. The grandmaster made light of the debacle on X where he tweeted a photo of the now notorious jeans. “OOTD,” he captioned the snap. OOTD pic.twitter.com/9reOP6zuJv Gossip Girl star Chanel Maya Banks , who made headlines last month after denying her family’s claims that she had gone missing, has filed a restraining order against her mother and cousin. The 36-year-old submitted the request in Los Angeles on Thursday, alleging her mom, Lutchmin Judy Kumar, and cousin, Danielle Singh have harassed her, TMZ reported. The actor also claimed that her mother and cousin were working to destroy her credibility. In October, Banks’ family reported her missing. She denied the claims in a post days later. Banks wrote in the restraining order filing that Kumar and Singh broke into her apartment in November while she was gone and attacked her husband. She also alleged that an Apple AirTag was put on her car to track her. After the attack, she alleged that her mother and cousin accused her husband of murder and said that Banks should be in a psychiatric hold. Sources told TMZ that they’re happy she is safe and are “moving on with their lives.” R&B singer Ne-Yo announced Friday that a popular professional boxer under his management has died at age 35. In a joint statement posted by the Grammy-winner and the boxer’s family, Ne-Yo, real name Shaffer Chimere Smith, announced “the passing of beloved son, brother, friend and boxing champion Paul Bamba, whose light and love touched countless lives.” Hailing from Puerto Rico, Bamba became one of the first boxing talents to sign to Ne-Yo’s management company in 2024. Bamba won all of his bouts in 2024 by knock out and recently claimed WBA’s secondary “gold” cruiserweight title after knocking out Rogelio Medina. “He was a fierce yet confident competitor with an unrelenting ambition to achieve greatness. But more than anything, he was a tremendous individual who inspired many with his exceptional drive and determination,” the statement added. Bamba was the No. 12 ranked contender by the WBA and seemed set on fighting in more high profile matches—challenging boxer Jake Paul to “holla at us” in one post. Paul shared his condolences on X, writing, “RIP Paul Bamba.” RIP Paul Bamba https://t.co/ovu7egrGHn Scouted selects products independently. If you purchase something from our posts, we may earn a small commission. 2025 is quickly approaching, and there’s no better way to celebrate the new year than with 2024’s cocktail du jour—the espresso martini. It’s the perfect way to toast 2025 with sophistication, flavor, and an energy boost. Think you can’t make the buzzy beverage at home because you’re not a bartender? Think again. You can create this beloved cocktail effortlessly with just a cocktail shaker, fresh espresso, vodka, coffee beans, and Mr Black Cold Brew Coffee Liqueur . It all starts in the land Down Under—Australia. Mr Black sources its ingredients, including 100 percent specialty-grade Arabica coffee, from local farmers and cooperatives. The liqueur is then slowly brewed with purified cold water to preserve its delicate, complex flavors. The result? A bittersweet masterpiece with bold flavor, balanced sweetness, and a lasting coffee kick. Its rich, coffee-forward taste is a crowd-pleaser, and the sleek bottle design adds a touch of elegance to any bar cart. Making an espresso martini is simple. Combine Mr Black , vodka, and freshly brewed espresso in a shaker. Add ice and shake vigorously until cold. Then, strain the mixture into a martini glass and finish with three coffee beans as a garnish. Skip the champagne toast this year and ensure you stay awake for the countdown to 2025 with a Mr Black espresso martini. Argentine-born British actress Olivia Hussey, known primarily for her role as Juliet in director Franco Zeffirelli’s 1968 film adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet , and as final girl Jess Bradford in the 1974 slasher Black Christmas , died Friday. She was 73. Friend and filmmaker Marc Huestis confirmed the news to the San Francisco Chronicle . A post on Hussey’s Instagram profile informed fans: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Olivia Hussey Eisley, who went peacefully at home surrounded by her loved ones. Olivia was a remarkable person whose warmth, wisdom, and pure kindness touched the lives of all who knew her.” Hussey was born in Buenos Aires to opera singer Andrés Osuna and Joy Hussey, a legal secretary from England. Hussey studied drama at London’s Italia Conti Academy, and was a professional actress by the time she was 13. She was 16 when she starred opposite Leonard Whiting in Romeo and Juliet —roles that earned each a Golden Globe for Most Promising Newcomer. Hussey later appeared in the films Death on the Nile, Virus, and the 1990 horror miniseries It , based on the Stephen King novel. A Democratic Florida state representative announced she is defecting from her party and joining the Republicans because the Democrats are too open to “extreme progressive voices.” Hillary Cassel, who is Jewish, said in a statement on X that she was “increasingly troubled by the Democratic Party’s failure to unequivocally support Israel” in its war with Hamas. “I’m constantly troubled by the inability of the current Democratic Party to relate to everyday Floridians,” she added. “I can no longer remain in a party that doesn’t represent my values. I know I won’t always agree on every detail with every Republican, but I do know that I will always have input, collaboration, and respect.” Cassel first won office in Florida’s 101st district in 2022, beating out her Republican opponent by seven points, according to Ballotpedia. She won re-election two months ago, running unopposed. Earlier this month, another Democrat in Florida’s house, Susan Valdes, announced that she would join the Republicans because she felt “ignored” by her party, according to the Tallahassee Democrat .About 6.21 lakh applications have been received for 1.27 lakh opportunities under the Prime Minister's Internship Scheme and the selection process is continuing, the government said on Sunday. ET Year-end Special Reads What kept India's stock market investors on toes in 2024? India's car race: How far EVs went in 2024 Investing in 2025: Six wealth management trends to watch out for The scheme, announced in the 2024 Union Budget, aims to provide internship opportunities to 1 crore youth in top-500 companies over five years. A pilot project of the scheme, started on October 3, aims to provide 1.25 lakh internship opportunities during 2024-25. In a release on Sunday, the corporate affairs ministry said approximately 6.21 lakh applications have been received against 1.27 lakh internship opportunities. "The selection process for internship is ongoing." Partner companies have posted about 1.27 lakh internship opportunities on the internship scheme portal. Artificial Intelligence(AI) Java Programming with ChatGPT: Learn using Generative AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Basics of Generative AI: Unveiling Tomorrows Innovations By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Generative AI for Dynamic Java Web Applications with ChatGPT By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Mastering C++ Fundamentals with Generative AI: A Hands-On By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) Master in Python Language Quickly Using the ChatGPT Open AI By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Performance Marketing for eCommerce Brands By - Zafer Mukeri, Founder- Inara Marketers View Program Office Productivity Zero to Hero in Microsoft Excel: Complete Excel guide 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance A2Z Of Money By - elearnmarkets, Financial Education by StockEdge View Program Marketing Modern Marketing Masterclass by Seth Godin By - Seth Godin, Former dot com Business Executive and Best Selling Author View Program Astrology Vastu Shastra Course By - Sachenkumar Rai, Vastu Shashtri View Program Strategy Succession Planning Masterclass By - Nigel Penny, Global Strategy Advisor: NSP Strategy Facilitation Ltd. View Program Data Science SQL for Data Science along with Data Analytics and Data Visualization By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI and Analytics based Business Strategy By - Tanusree De, Managing Director- Accenture Technology Lead, Trustworthy AI Center of Excellence: ATCI View Program Web Development A Comprehensive ASP.NET Core MVC 6 Project Guide for 2024 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital Marketing Masterclass by Pam Moore By - Pam Moore, Digital Transformation and Social Media Expert View Program Artificial Intelligence(AI) AI-Powered Python Mastery with Tabnine: Boost Your Coding Skills By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Office Productivity Mastering Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and 365 By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Marketing Digital marketing - Wordpress Website Development By - Shraddha Somani, Digital Marketing Trainer, Consultant, Strategiest and Subject Matter expert View Program Office Productivity Mastering Google Sheets: Unleash the Power of Excel and Advance Analysis By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Web Development Mastering Full Stack Development: From Frontend to Backend Excellence By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program Finance Financial Literacy i.e Lets Crack the Billionaire Code By - CA Rahul Gupta, CA with 10+ years of experience and Accounting Educator View Program Data Science SQL Server Bootcamp 2024: Transform from Beginner to Pro By - Metla Sudha Sekhar, IT Specialist and Developer View Program About 4.87 lakh individuals have completed their KYC and registered themselves on the portal, the release said. Under the scheme, interns will be provided a monthly financial assistance of Rs 5,000 for 12 months and a one-time grant of Rs 6,000. While mentioning about various initiatives taken this year, the ministry said the framework governing cost record and audit will be amended after considering stakeholders' comments and recommendations of the ministry-appointed committee. From financial year 2023-24, the ministry has issued regular advisories to companies on adhering to the prescribed timelines for filing cost audit reports. "This initiative has led to a 14 per cent increase in the timely submission of cost audit reports during 2023-24 compared to the previous year," the release added.How co-writing a book threatened the Carters' marriage

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LIVERPOOL, United Kingdom - Kylian Mbappe saw a penalty saved as Liverpool beat Real Madrid 2-0 on Nov 27 to inflict a third Champions League defeat in five matches on the holders. Alexis Mac Allister and Cody Gakpo scored the goals in the second half as the Reds maintained their perfect record to return to the top of the table. Mohamed Salah also fired wide from the spot, but it mattered little as Liverpool secured a 17th win in Arne Slot’s first 19 games in charge. Slot has already achieved what Jurgen Klopp could not as Liverpool boss by slaying the Spanish giants. Liverpool had a score to settle with Madrid, who were unbeaten in eight previous meetings between the sides, including Champions League finals against Klopp’s men in 2018 and 2022. Defeat sends Carlo Ancelotti’s side tumbling down to 24th in the table. Only the top 24 progress to the knockout stage with the top eight advancing directly to the last 16. Liverpool are well on course to do just that and the confidence coursing through a side also eight points clear at the top of the Premier League was in evidence throughout in front of a highly-charged Anfield crowd. Madrid were hamstrung by a lengthy injury list and made the trip to England without Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo, Dani Carvajal, Eder Militao, Aurelien Tchouameni and David Alaba. Young centre-back Raul Asencio has been pressed into action by those absences and he made a vital goal-line clearance on four minutes. Darwin Nunez was sent in behind the Madrid defence by Salah and after his shot produced a fine save from Thibaut Courtois, Asencio reacted smartly to prevent the rebound bouncing off him and into his own net. Courtois was Liverpool’s scourge with a man-of-the-match performance in the final two years ago as Madrid prevailed 1-0 in Paris. The Belgian was at his best again as he blocked another big Nunez chance from point-blank range as the Liverpool pressure built without reward before the break. Courtois was in sparkling form again at the start of the second period to parry Conor Bradley’s downward header. But Liverpool were not to be denied as Bradley was this time the provider for Mac Allister, who manufactured the space for a shot into the far corner on 52 minutes. The visitors were relying on Mbappe for a moment of magic in the absence of Vinicius, but the Frenchman was well-marshalled by his international team-mate Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk. His chance to silence his critics arrived on the hour mark when Andy Robertson was harshly adjudged to have tripped Lucas Vazquez inside the area. Caoimhin Kelleher has excelled in the absence of the injured Alisson Becker and leapt to his left to save Mbappe’s spot-kick. Salah sparked a furore ahead of the game by declaring his disappointment with Liverpool’s failure to offer him a contract renewal. The Egyptian has been in sparkling form this season and his pace and trickery fooled Ferland Mendy into a mistimed challenge. Salah, though, gave Madrid a lifeline by firing his penalty off the outside of the post. Liverpool had to wait just six more minutes for the cushion of a second goal as substitute Gakpo rose highest from a corner to power a header past Courtois. AFP。

No. 8 Kentucky flying high ahead of Western Kentucky meeting

Article content Coincident with Donald Trump’s electoral victory, increasing numbers of America’s corporations are backing off their DEI — diversity, equity, inclusion — programs. Recommended Videos Trump’s opposition to DEI is clear and JD Vance’s bold opposition to this agenda was one of the reasons for his selection as Trump’s running mate. As the Trump transition team completes its work bringing in the new leadership that will run the American government, it’s clear that a priority is to uproot the woke rules, directives and institutions that Democrats have implanted in the federal government. Efforts will be made to de-woke the military, the defence department and other major government departments and agencies. The justice department will work to use existing law to challenge the prevalence of woke rules that have so widely taken over the governance and operation of our universities. Walmart, one of America’s largest companies, has just announced it will end the Center for Racial Equity it launched in 2020 with funding of $100 million. The website of this centre describes its mission as working to “foster equitable outcomes for people ... (and) to address the root causes of gaps in outcomes experienced by Black and African American people in education, health, finance and criminal justice systems.” Walmart also, according to The Wall Street Journal , will “stop allowing third-party sellers to offer some LGBTQ-themed items on Walmart.com.” Boeing Corporation, per the same report, has also announced a similar winding down of these efforts. Whereas we can understand how a political agenda can find its way into government institutions, how does this happen in the private sector? What motivated these corporations that operate in a free marketplace and are owned and controlled by private stockholders to incorporate a political agenda into their business and operating practices, and what is motivating them now to back off these programs? Has the management of these corporations changed their minds regarding the business efficacy of these programs? Or did they put them in place initially to curry favour with a political regime once in power and now they are backing off to curry favour with a new regime? Let’s recall, again, how profoundly our culture has changed. If there was a defining moment in the Civil Rights Movement, it was Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech in August 1963. And if there was a defining line in that speech, it was King’s declaration that “I have a dream that one day my four little children will live in a nation where they will not be judged by the colour of their skin but by the content of their character.” The Civil Rights Movement was, in the grand scheme of things, about right and wrong. About good and evil. The movement succeeded because it was rooted in these truths. As King argued in 1963, the problem was not our Constitution but its implementation by human beings who permitted evil to find its way into our culture. Unfortunately, rather than following through with the true biblical spirit of the Civil Rights Movement, the nation took the path of politics to implement justice, making our country less free, rather than turning to King’s appeal to the Bible to improve our freedom, in the spirit in which the Constitution was written. We might consider that moment, when politics took over, the birth of today’s woke movement. The result has been a vast politicization of our country and our culture. My hope is we learn and don’t trade one political regime for another. Yes, we need to go back to a culture of free markets and merit. But it all starts with the choices free individuals make and those choices must start with a conviction of good and evil as defined by the Bible that King had in mind when he spoke that day in Washington in August 1963. Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and EducationJudge grants dismissal of election subversion case against TrumpDbv technologies chief medical officer sells shares worth $1,269

Washington : Kamala Harris has spoken out about her election defeat in a widely pilloried video in which she talked up her losing campaign’s record fundraising haul and urged demoralised Democrats to continue to mobilise against Donald Trump. After weeks of silence and a brief holiday in Hawaii, the vice president appeared in a 10-minute video to thank supporters and encouraged them to remain resilient after Trump’s election victory. “Ability to engage and inspire”: Vice President Kamala Harris. Credit: X/TheDemocrats “The outcome of this election, obviously, is not what we wanted,” she said. “It is not what we worked so hard for, but I am proud of the race we ran, and your role in this was critical. What we did in 107 days was unprecedented ... Don’t let anyone take your power.” The video went viral on social media, but was widely mocked by critics noting the vice president’s tired and somewhat rattled appearance, with some going so far as to question whether she was under the influence of alcohol. In a sentiment shared by many, TV personality Meghan McCain, the daughter of former Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, also called for Democrats to remove the short clip posted to the party’s X account. Emotional supporters as US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks following her election defeat. Credit: Bloomberg “Take this down,” McCain wrote. “She’s still the sitting Vice President for God’s sake – this is awful. Like really, really awful.” Harris’ comment about the “historic $1.4 billion” raised from grassroots supporters angered some donors, who questioned how so much money could be spent, only to lose all seven battleground states, the popular vote and both houses of Congress. Speaking on News Nation, mega-donor John Morgan, who refused to back Harris’ presidential bid, said the expenditure would “follow Harris for the rest of her career”. “I think this disqualifies her forever,” said the founder of Washington-based law firm Morgan & Morgan. “If you can’t run a campaign, you can’t run America.” Elise Stefanik, Donald Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, said she had been threatened. Credit: Bloomberg Harris’ video was the first time she had spoken publicly about the election since her concession speech at Howard University on November 6. It came as Trump’s campaign revealed that several of his cabinet and staffing picks had been targeted by bomb threats and swatting – a process that has become quite common in America, whereby police are called to someone’s home to check what often turns out to be a hoax. The campaign has not disclosed who was targeted, however, the office of New York Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Trump’s pick for UN ambassador, posted that she was among them. “Last night and this morning, several of President Trump’s Cabinet nominees and administration appointees were targeted in violent, unAmerican threats to their lives and those who live with them,” said Trump’s spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt. “In response, law enforcement acted quickly to ensure the safety of those who were targeted. President Trump and the entire Transition team are grateful for their swift action.” President Joe Biden’s decision to stand down on July 21 and elevate Harris as the Democratic candidate changed the trajectory of the 2024 presidential race and broke fundraising records in the three months up to election day. However, after her crushing defeat, the campaign’s spending and political strategy have come under growing scrutiny amid recriminations about what went wrong. As the soul-searching continued, Harris campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon, senior adviser David Plouffe, deputy campaign manager Quentin Fulks and senior adviser Stephanie Cutter, appeared on the left-leaning Pod Save America podcast to provide their insights, blaming Biden, the media, and the truncated campaign time frame. Kamala Harris and Joe Biden at a rally together for her campaign in Maryland in August. Credit: Eric Lee/The New York Times Plouffe, a former Obama adviser, rejected as “nonsense” the idea that Harris should have done more to educate voters about who she was as a candidate, rather than focus on Trump. “To win a race like this given the political atmospherics, which were quite challenging, we had to raise the risk of a Trump second term,” he said. Dillon, meanwhile, said perceptions that the vice president spent too many weeks avoiding interviews were “completely bullshit” and said that when Harris did do interviews, the questions were “small and processy” and they did not help to inform voters wanting to know about her. Cutter added that many of the questions were just “dumb”. Harris also received a lot of criticism during the campaign over comments she made on the TV show The View in which she said there wasn’t anything she would have done differently than Biden. This became an instant attack ad for the Trump campaign, and one of the most damaging errors for Harris as she tried to present herself to voters as the candidate of change. Asked about this on the podcast, Cutter said the campaign tried to differentiate Harris from Biden by talking about her as a new generational leader who spent most of her career outside the Washington beltway. “We were trying to tell a story and give the impression that she was different without pointing to a specific issue,” she explained. Elsewhere, veteran Democratic Party strategist James Carville hit out at young progressives in the Harris campaign, suggesting their role in thwarting a potential interview with Joe Rogan may have contributed to her crushing defeat. “The vice president was thinking about going on Joe Rogan’s show and a lot of the younger, progressive staffers pitched a hissy fit,” he said. “What I would tell them: ‘Not only am I not interested in your f---ing opinion, I’m not even gonna call you by your name. You’re 23 years old, I don’t really give a shit what you think’.” Harris, meanwhile, used her video to urge supporters to stay positive. “You have the same ability to engage and inspire,” she said. “So don’t ever let anybody or any circumstance take your power from you.” Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here .PLATTSBURGH — Steven W. Holden, Sr., is hoping to highlight his experience, education, background and military service for voters as he campaigns to become the Democratic nominee for the anticipated special election for the North Country’s 21st Congressional District. Last week, Holden announced he was forming an exploratory committee to prepare a run – its the first step and a way to campaign without the seat being vacant yet. Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuylerville, has not resigned the seat yet and is unlikely to do so before facing Senate confirmation for the U.N. Ambassadorship next year. In an interview on Monday, Holden said he’s ready to bring his message to the voters – that the North Country and Washington need a well-versed, familiar, ready-to-work candidate that he believes he best embodies. “There are certain times meant for certain candidates, with all of these different things going on out there, we feel like I’m the only one, Democrat or Republican, who would have the requisite experience to be able to properly represent the district,” he said. BACKGROUND Holden, 52, grew up on an Oklahoma dairy farm – he retains a slight accent even after nearly 20 years of living in the northeast. He spent over 20 years in the Army, seeing four combat deployments and becoming a senior officer. He worked as an Army consultant as recently as 2019. He was also an Army finance officer, which he said has given him prime experience needed to represent Fort Drum and the 10th Mountain Division, as well as a Congressional district with one of the highest number of resident veterans. Holden can talk about military and defense policy, agriculture and dairy farms, food policy and more with some ease. He’s billed himself as a “practical progressive,” but with the upcoming Trump administration and Republican-held Congress, Holden says he’s more concerned about insulating the district as best as possible from possible harm from Republican policies, and working with Republicans in the House to block bad bills. “Number one is that you have to be able to work across the aisle,” he said. “And that’s going to go both ways in the House.” TARIFF CONCERNS He’s worried about the potential tariffs that President-Elect Donald J. Trump has said he would impose on Canada and Mexico, and the effects that a mass deportation push as Trump has called for would have on the local agricultural economy. If those policies come to pass, Holden said he would push to put more federal money into small family farms, allowing them to expand and create a more integrated supply chain domestically. “That would help minimize the need for foreign goods from Canada or Mexico or China, and allow them to be able to operate in a more linear, or horizontal, format,” he said. He said he’s worried about a cut to SNAP and WIC, the keystone federal food aid programs – besides feeding needy families, they also drive a significant amount of food purchases with the dollars they provide. WIC and SNAP rules dictate what people on the aid can buy with the money, how much of it and when they can buy it – Holden said if those programs were cut, there would be a measurable decline in food buying, hurting both farmers and grocers as well as the benefit recipients. “If you don’t have as many people who can buy your goods at the grocery store, that’s going to take away from your bottom line, grocery stores won’t stock as much of your product,” he said. ‘LET’S WORK ON SOMETHING HERE’ Coupled with potential tariffs, Holden said a cut to domestic food demand would be a gut-punch for the agricultural economy, including the farms in NY-21. Holden said he has the experience in negotiations to be able to convince Republicans to take his side on these issues – he referenced his 2019 deployment to Afghanistan to assist with the U.S. Army’s pullout from the country. “I’ve had to work in DoD negotiations, I’ve had to work making sure we got leases paid to Afghan war lords,” he said. “I don’t have a fear of going up to someone with an R after their name rather than a D and saying ‘let’s work on something here.’” He’s got some work to do to get to the negotiation table first. In the special election to represent NY-21, the clock doesn’t start until Stefanik steps down. When she does, the first step will be for the chairs of the 15 county committees that make up NY-21 to select a nominee. For both the Republicans and the Democrats, that’s done by a weighted vote based on the party registration numbers in each county. OTHER CAMPAIGNS There are a number of names in the running for the Democratic nomination – Paula Collins, the candidate in the general election this year, is running, and there are a handful of local elected leaders who are quietly considering a campaign as well. There’s a similar effort on the Republican side – one candidate has gone public, Anthony Constantino of Montgomery County, a pro-Trump conservative who has worked to get as close as possible to Trump and earn the President-Elect’s support in his campaign. A handful of local elected officials and some business leaders in the district are also, quietly, considering a Republican campaign, but have not declared in part for deference to the sitting Congresswoman. Whoever the candidates end up being, the race is likely to get a lot of attention. For an open seat, it’s anticipated that the state and federal party committees will get involved, and with the margin for control of the House left to just four seats, this race could prove decisive. Holden said he is ready for a big, flashy, much-discussed race for Congress this time – his previous two runs, first as the Democrat nominee against Congresswoman Claudia L. Tenney, R-Cleveland in 2022 and his attempt to appear on this year’s ballot for NY-21 were both more quiet affairs without state or national attention or support. “If it gets into something testy, something big or nasty, we’re prepared for it,” he said. “I’ve ran in races like that before.”

LUMBERTON — No day is good for a Scam Alert, but the day before Thanksgiving? “Criminal scam artists are at it again,” said Robeson County Sheriff Burnis Wilkins in a social media post on Wednesday. “Residents throughout the county, including the towns and city, are receiving calls from a person identifying themselves as a Robeson County Deputy Sheriff.” Wilkins said criminals are also spoofing their phone number to look as if they are calling from the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. “Oftentimes the caller will offer to hang up and allow you to call them back at the spoofed number,” Wilkins said. “But again, it’s not the actual agency you are calling.” The caller usually explains there is an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court or failing to appear for jury duty as part of the “jury duty scam,” according to Wilkins. “Then during the conversation, they explain the process of using online portals, providing barcodes, requesting you purchase paycards, use Bitcoin and kiosks as a means of obtaining payment to avoid a felony warrant,” Wilkins said. The criminal justice system, including law enforcement agencies anywhere in North Carolina, does not work like that. “DO NOT entertain the conversation,” Wilkins said. “Simply HANG UP. “Sadly, several people in our county have fallen victim to this criminal activity over the last few days,” Wilkins said. “Please don’t become a victim of this scam.” David Kennard is the executive editor of the Robesonian. Reach him by email at dkennard@robesonian.com.Shatel: Nebraska is going to a bowl game again — and here are some dream matchups

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Viral ring girl Sydney Thomas reveals why she split up with her boyfriend just before becoming famousFRISCO, Texas (AP) — A rare win as a double-digit underdog came just in time to let the Dallas Cowboys believe their playoff hopes aren't completely gone in 2024. Cooper Rush probably will need three more victories in a row filling in for the injured Dak Prescott for any postseason talk to be realistic. The thing is, the Cowboys (4-7) could be favored in two of those games, and already are by four points as an annual Thanksgiving Day host against the New York Giants (2-9) on Thursday, according to BetMGM. Not to mention the losing record at the moment for each of the next four opponents for the defending NFC East champions, playoff qualifiers each of the past three seasons. The Cowboys have a chance to make something of the improbable and chaotic 34-26 win at Washington that ended a five-game losing streak. “Behind the eight ball,” Micah Parsons said, the star pass rusher acknowledging the reality that Dallas hadn't done much yet. “Let’s see how we can handle adversity and see if we can make a playoff run. But we got a long way to go.” It was a start, though, powered in part by the best 55 minutes from the Dallas defense since the opener, when the Cowboys dismantled Cleveland and looked the part of a Super Bowl contender. The last five minutes for the Dallas defense against the Commanders looked a lot like most of the nine games after that 33-17 victory over the Browns. Which is to say not very good. Jayden Daniels easily drove Washington 69 yards to a touchdown before throwing an 86-yard scoring pass in the final seconds to Terry McLaurin, who weaved through five defenders when a tackle might have ended the game. The Cowboys kept a 27-26 lead thanks to Austin Seibert's second missed extra point, and withstood another blunder when Juanyeh Thomas returned an onside kick recovery for a TD rather than slide and leave one kneel-down from Rush to end the game. Dallas will have to remember it did hold a dynamic rookie quarterback's offense to 251 yards before the madness of the ending in the Cowboys' biggest upset victory since 2010 at the New York Giants. That one was too late to save the season. This one might not be. “We needed it,” embattled coach Mike McCarthy said. “It’s been frustrating, no doubt. We’ve acknowledged that. We’ve got another one right around the corner here, so we have to get some wins and get some momentum.” What's working Rush ended a personal three-game losing streak with his best showing since the previous time he won as the replacement for Prescott, who is out for the season after surgery for a torn hamstring. The 117.6 passer rating was Rush's best as a starter, and the NFL's second-worst rushing attack played a solid complementary role with Rico Dowdle gaining 86 yards on 19 carries. What needs help KaVontae Turpin's electrifying 99-yard kickoff return did more than lift the Cowboys when it appeared an 11-point lead might get away in the final five minutes. It eased the worst day of special teams for Dallas since John Fassel took over that phase four years ago. Suddenly struggling kicker Brandon Aubrey had one field-goal attempt blocked and missed another. Bryan Anger had a punt blocked. For the second time in five games, Aubrey's attempt to bounce a kickoff in front of the return man backfired. The ball bounced outside the landing zone, putting the Commanders at the 40-yard line to start the second half and setting up the drive to the game's first touchdown. Stock up CB Josh Butler, whose NFL debut earlier this season came five years after the end of his college career, had 12 tackles, a sack and three pass breakups. The pass breakups were the most by an undrafted Dallas player since 1994. Stock down Rookie LT Tyler Guyton, who has had an up-and-down season with injuries and performance issues, was benched immediately after getting called for a false start in the fourth quarter. His replacement, Asim Richards, could be sidelined with a high ankle sprain that executive vice president of personnel Stephen Jones revealed on his radio show Monday. Veteran Chuma Edoga, who was the projected starter at Guyton's position before a preseason toe injury, was active but didn't play against the Commanders. He's awaiting his season debut. Injuries The status of perennial All-Pro RG Zack Martin (ankle/shoulder) and LG Tyler Smith (ankle/knee) will be a question on the short week after both sat against Washington. Stephen Jones indicated Smith could be available and said the same of WR Brandin Cooks, who hasn't played since Week 4 because of a knee issue. TE Jake Ferguson may miss at least a second week with a concussion. The short week might make it tough for CB Trevon Diggs (groin/knee) to return. Key number 75% — Rush's completion rate, his best with at least 10 passes. He was 24 of 32 for 247 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. His other game with multiple TDs and no picks was a 25-10 victory over Washington two years ago, when he went 4-1 with Prescott sidelined by a broken thumb. Next steps There's some extra rest after the short week, with Cincinnati making a “Monday Night Football” visit on Dec. 9. The next road game is at Carolina on Dec. 15. ___ AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl Schuyler Dixon, The Associated Press